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UTILIZATION— THE  FIELD  OF 


^  THE  FOREST  PRODUCTS  LABORATORY  BEGINS  HERE 


The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

A  Decennial  Record 

1910    --     1920 


THE  FOREST  PRODUCTS  LABORATORY' 

AN  INSTITUTION  OF  INDUSTRIAL  RESEARCH 

MAINTAINED  AT  MADISON.  WISCONSIN 

IN  QUARTERS  FURNISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  WISCONSIN 

BY  THE 

BRANCH  OF  RESEARCH 

FOREST  SERVICE 

UNITED  STATES  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 


PUBLISHED    BY    THE 

DECENXIAT.    COMMITTEE 

HOWARD   F.    AVEISS.     Chairmen 

1921 


DEMOCRAT    PP.IXTIXG    COMPANY 
MADISON,     AVISCONSIN 


GENERAL   COMMITTEE 
Decennial    Celebration 

FOREST   PRODUCTS   LABORATORY 

MADISON.  WISCONSIN 
JULY  22  AND  23,  1920 


Honorary  Chairman, 

Emaxuel  L.   Philipp.  Governoi; 
Commonwealth  of  Wisconsin. 
Chairman, 

Howard  F.  Weiss, 

C.     F.     Burgess    Laboratories.     Madison, 
Wis.     Ex-Director,  Forest  Products  I.,ab- 
oratory. 
First  Vice-chairman, 

Carlile     p.     Winslow,     Director,     Forest 
Products    Laboratory. 
Second  Vice-Chairman,  . 

H.  J.  Thokkelson,  Bnsinrss  Muntifjcr,  Uni- 
versity of  AVisconsin. 
Executive    Secretary. 

Dox   E.    MowRY,   General   Secretary, 
Madison    Association    of    Commerce. 


R.    H.    AisHTON.   President, 

American    R.    R.    Assn.,    Chicago,    111. 
W.    R.    Anderson,  Publisher, 

"Packages."  Milwaukee,    Wis. 

James   R.    Angell.   Chairman, 

National   Research    Council, 

Washington,   D.   C. 

E.    A.   BiRGE,   President, 

University   of   W^isconsin,    Madison,   Wis. 
J.    H.    Bloedel.    President.    Bloedel-Donovan 

Lumber   Mills.    Seattle.    Wash.      Vice   Pres. 

Xat'l  Lumber  Mfgrs.   A.ss'n. 
C.    S.    Brantingham,  President , 

Emerson-Brantingham    Co.,    Rockfoid,    111. 

Chairman,    Advisory    Committee,    National 

Implement  &  Vehicle  Association. 
R.    C.    Bryant, 

Yale    Forest    School,    New    Haven,    Conn. 

Pres.    Society   of   American    Foresters. 
C.  B.  Chapman.  President, 

Madi.son   As.sociation  of  Commerce. 
Geo.    M.    Cornwall.    Editor    and    Piihlisher. 

"The   Timberman,"  Portland.   Ore. 

Jos.    H.     Defreks.    Defrees,    Buckingham    & 

Eaton,   Attorneys.  Chicago,   111. 

President    Chamber    of    Commerce    of    U. 

S.  A. 
M.    C.    Fitzgerald.   Director   of    Transporta- 
tion,   General    Electric    Co., 

Schenectady,   X.  Y. 

A.  L.  Ford,  Managing  Editor, 

"American   Lumberman,"  Chicago.    111. 

L.     D.     Gardner.    President .    The     Gardner- 
Moffat  Co.,  Inc.  New  York,  N.  Y. 

W.  A.  Gilchrist.  Chicago.  111. 

Chairman,  Committee  on  Wood  Utilization 
and  Prevention  of  Waste.  National  Lum- 
ber   Manufacturers'-  Association. 

John  AI.  Glenn,  President, 

Glenn  &  Co.,  Chicago.  111. 

Secretary,    Illinois    Mfgrs.    Association. 

R.    B.    Goodman,  Secretary,  Sawyer 

Goodman   Lumber  Co.,  Marinette.   Wis. 

Director,  Nat'l  Lumber  Mfgrs.  Ass"n. 


Henry   S.   Graves,  Washington,   D.   C. 

Former  Forester,  U.   S.   Forest  Service. 
W.    K.    Hatt.   Purdue   Univ.,   Lafayette,    Ind. 

President   Concrete   Institute. 
Chas.   H.   Herty.  Editor, 

"Jour.  Ind.   and  Eng.  Chem.," 

New   \ork,    N.    i. 

Howard  W.   Hobbs,  .      . 

Wood  Mosaic  Co.,  Inc..  Louisville,  K>. 

WiLLARD  C.  Howe.  President  and  Treas^a•er, 
Journal    of  Commerce  Co.,      St.  Louis,  Mo. 

B.    F.    Huntley,    President,    B.    F     Huntley 
Fuiniture  Co.  AVinston-Salem,  N.  C 

Chairman       Forest     Products     Laboratory 
Committee,  So.  Furn.  Mfgrs.  Ass'n. 

Louis  T.  Jamme,  .  Chicago    111. 

Ex-V     P.    and    Chairman    Civic-Ind.    Com., 
Chicago   Association   of   Commerce. 

Elmer  C.  Jensen.  . 

Mundie   &  Jensen.  Architects,   Chicago,  111- 
BoLLiNG  Arthur  Johnson.  Editor  and  Puh., 

"Lumber  World  Review,"  Chicago,  111. 

\    R.  Joyce,  First  Vice-President, 

.Tovce  W^atkins  Co..  Chicago,  111. 

Pres..    American  Wood   Preservers   Assn. 
C      P      Kettering,    Dayton-Wright    Branch, 
''General    Motors.  Dayton,    Ohio 

James   S.   Macgregor.  United  Aircraft  K"^.- 

neering  Corporation,  New  \ork,  N.    i. 

B    F.   Masters,  V.  P.   d   Gen.  Man.. 

Rathborne  Hair  &  Ridgeway  Company, 

Chicago,  111. 

Chairman    of   Bd.    Nat'l   Ass'n   Box    Mfgrs. 
Harry   H.   Merrick.  President, 

Great   Lakes  Trust  Co.,  Chicago    TH. 

President,    Mississippi    Valley    Association. 
Geo.    W.    Mixter.    Vice-President. 

Pierce- Arrow  Motor  Car  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
E    R.  MoAK.  Managing  Editor, 

"Wisconsin  State  Journal, 
L.  D.  Post.  Publisher, 

"Paper  Mill   &  Pulp  Wood   News, 

New  York, 

Percival    Sheldon    Ridsdale,    Editor, 

"American   Forestry,"     Washington, 

F.  J.  Sensen BRENNER.  First  rier-Pre." 


Madi.son,  AVis. 


N.  Y. 


D.   C. 

Kim- 

Neenah,  Wis. 


berly-Clark  Company, 
E.    B.  Stevens.  President,  „    „  ,       ^^    -i- 

Wood    Products    Co.,  Buffalo.    N.    i- 

W     H     Sullivan.    Vice-Pres.    .f    Gen.    Man., 

Great     Southern     Lumber     Co.,     Bogalusa, 

La.      Director,  Nat'l  Lumber  Mfg.  A.ss  n. 
Dwin  !<:.  Town.  General  Manager, 

"Chicago    Evening    Post"    and    a.s.sociated 

papers,  Chicago,  iii. 

R    v.  Windoes.  Editor, 

"Furniture    Manufacturer   and    Artisan, 

Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 

C.   H.  Worcester.  President, 

C.  H.   Worce.ster  Company,        Chicago.   111. 
Vice-Pres.,   Nat'l  Lumber  Mfgr.s.   Ass'n. 


?02R% 


CONTEXTS 


Foreword 

Taut  I 

CllAl'TKK 

/^^    I     ^^^o()(l  and  Huiiuiii  Progress 
'^  II     Early  Pers})ectives  of  Forest  I^tili/ation 

III  The  Forest  Prodiiets  Ea})oratory     . 

Kstahlislmieiit  .... 
(xrowtli  ..... 
Organization  .... 
<- —  E(ini])ment  .... 
Personnel  .... 

IV  'I'en  ^^ears  of  Research  in  Forest  Product 

^=^^  Pre-war  Research       .  .    '      . 

^    WarW<^rk         .... 
^^^     Financial  A^alue  of  Research  Results 
-==^VI     Future  Research  in  Forest  Products 
*--V"II      How  to  Fse  the  liaboratorv 


PAGE 

1 

4 

9 

9 

10 

12 

16 

19 

23 

23 

37 

59 

63 

7.> 


Pakt  II 

Decennial  Foreword 
Decennial  Celebration  Pro"-ram 


8.5 
86 


Decennial  Celel)ration  Proceedings 

(reneral  Asscnil)ly,  July  22.  1920 

II.  F.  Weiss.  Chairman 
Jianquet.  .July  22,  1920 

Burr  W.  Jones,  FE.  D.,  Toastinaster 
General  Assembly.  July  23,  1920      . 

Jolin  Foley.  Chairman 


87 
119 
139 


ArPENDIX 

Decennial  Registration  Eist 
I'ormer  Faboratorv  Staff  Members 


179 
189 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Utilization — The    Field    of    the    Forest    Products    La])oratory 

Begins  Here Frontispiece 

Three  Foresters,  United  States  Forest  Service    ....       3 

The  Yard  to  ANHiicli  Come  T.,ogs  from  Many  Climes  and  Coun- 
tries       8 

Organization  Chart,  Forest  Products  I.,aboratorv         .         .         .14 

Erection  of  the  Million  Pound  Timber  Testing  ^lachine  (1920)  .     17 

Three  Directors,  Forest  Products  Laboratory     .         .         .         .20 

The  Timber  ^Mechanics  Laboratory     ......     24 

Box  Testing  in  tlie  liig  Tum])ling  Drum     .  .  .  .  .27 

A  Cliarge  of  Ties  Knteringtlie  Preservation  Cylinder  at  tlie  lial)- 

oratory  ..........     30 

War  AVork — .An  Airplane  AVing  Rib  Being  Placed  in  a  Testing 

Machine 36 

Personnel  Development  Chart — July,  1917  to  July,  1920     .         .     39 

Laminated  Construction  as  Applied  to  Wooden  Articles  of  Com- 
merce   44 

Glue  Spreach'ng  ^Macliine     ........     46 

Some  AVar  Time  Installations  of  Types  of  Dry  Kilns  Developed 

at  the  La))oratory 50 

Wood  DistiHation  Retort 56 

Studying  the  JNIany  Factors  Entering  into  the  Manufacture  and 

Storage  of  Airplane  Propellers 62 

Forest  Service  Improvements  in  Turpentining    .         .  .         .68 

Wood  Technology— The  JNIicroscope  is  Useful  in  Identification  .     72 


84 
100 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

The  Control  and  Operation  P^nd  of  a  Dry  Kiln  at  the  Lahoratoiy     76 

Cooperative  Box  Work — A  Stndy  of  Diagonal  Compression       .     79 

A  Qniet  ^lonient  During  the  Decennial     .... 

Educational  Work — A  Typical  Class  in  Kiln  Drying 

Tinilier  Tests — A  Large  Built-u])  Floor  Beam  Being  Tested  to 

Destruction 110 

Xew  Boxes  for  Old— Some  AVar  Time  Box  Work  at  the  Lah- 

oratory  .  .  .  .  .  •  •  •  •  .118 

Xotable  Decennial  Figures — Director  C.  P.  A^^inslo^^^  Forester 
W.  B.  Greeley,  Former  Director  H.  F.  Weiss    . 

Bending  Heavy  Wheel  Rims 

:\Ioisture    Resistant    Coatings   -A])plying    Aluminum    Leaf    to 
Wheel  Pattern 

The  Paper  Making  Machine 

A  Corner  of  the  Pulp  and  Paper  Laboratory     . 

Xotable  Decennial  Figures — Speakers  and  Leaders     . 

I>aboratory  Helpers  Gatliering  Data  for  Determining  ^Moisture 
Content  of  Woods 

A  ^liracle  of   Chemistry — Conversion  of    Sawdust   into   Stock 
Food 


122 
134 

138 
142 
148 
156 

162 

170 


FORFAVORD 

On  July  twenty-second,  nineteen  twenty,  several 
hundred  representatives  of  America's  diversified  Avood- 
nsing  industries  assembled  at  IVIadison,  Wisconsin,  to 
celebrate  the  tenth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the 
Forest  Products  Laboratory.  ]Men,  representative  of 
every  important  industry  which  draws  upon  the  forests 
for  its  raw  material,  were  present  from  throughout  the 
United  States.     Several  came  from  foreign  countries. 

The  decennial  celebration,  of  which  the  publication 
of  this  record  is  a  ])art,  was  conceived  as  a  mark  of  tril)- 
nte  to  ten  years  of  ])ublic  service  unique  in  the  forest 
history  of  the  world,  and  it  was  made  possible  by  the 
contributions  of  over  two  hundred  firms  and  individ- 
uals. Acknowledgment  is  here  made  by  the  committee 
for  this  striking  evidence  of  good  will,  and  the  hope  is 
expressed  that  this  volume  M'ill  reflect  the  spirit  and 
character  of  the  work  of  this  institution  during  the  first 
ten  years  of  its  public  service. 


THE  FOREST  PRODUCTS  LABORATORY 
A  DECENNIAL  RECORD 

PART  I 


Stat^ 


CHAPTER    I 
WOOD    AND    HUMAX    PROGRESS 


Knowledge  is  the  torch  of  human  progress.  It  throws  its  light 
forward  and  hfts  each  generation  upward  in  the  scale  of  civilization 
in  proportion  as  that  generation  accepts  its  standards.  In  the  story 
of  creation,  knowledge  is  symbolized  by  a  tree.  Down  through  the 
intervening  ages  man's  use  of  wood  in  attaining  new  heights  of  knowl- 
edge has  been  one  of  the  most  important  factors  in  the  advance  of 
civilization. 

Primitive  man,  we  are  told,  was  dominated  by  the  forest.  But  as 
his  crude  imagination  slowly  awakened  to  the  arts  of  life,  he  finally 
succeeded  in  reversing  the  order  of  his  environment  by  making  the 
forests  more  and  more  serve  his  material  needs.  And  in  conquering 
the  forests,  he  built  up  the  material  structure  of  his  own  civihzation; 
he  stimulated  his  latent  consciousness  of  the  power  of  civilization;  he 
lifted  himself  from  a  life  of  savage  and  nomadic  wandering  to  the 
social  and  industrial  modernism  of  today. 

History  is  rich  in  evidence  of  the  achievement  of  human  progress 
tlu-ougli  knowledge  derived  from  Mood.  Man,  it  is  held,  was  rescued 
from  a  state  of  savagery  primarily  by  two  discoveries :  the  art  of  kind- 
ling fire  at  his  will  and  the  use  of  the  bow  and  arrow,  which  made  him 
master  of  his  food  supply  and  provided  him  with  clothing.  Ages 
later,  tlie  discovery  of  iron,  with  M'hich  he  could  fashion  wood  more 
and  more  to  serve  his  needs,  appears  to  have  been  the  step  from  bar- 
barism to  tlie  first  stages  of  civilization. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  express  proper  appreciation  of  wood  as  a 
material  stimulus  to  learning  and  the  arts  of  living.  Its  ready  adapt- 
ability, we  can  well  believe,  made  it  tlie  sculptor's  clay  by  which  man 
tested  and  developed  liis  first  imaginative  theories  and  laid  the  primi- 
tive foundation  of  much  present  day  science.  The  origin  of  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  wheel,  which  is  an  essential  part  of  almost  every  machine 
or  mechanical  conveyance  of  our  own  age,  is  lost  in  antiquity,  as  evi- 


The  Fokest  Pkoducts  Labokatory 


denced  by  wooden  wheels  taken  from  tlie  monuments  of  ancient 
Egypt.  In  these  same  mounds  are  found  the  earhest  recorded  form 
of  plows,  made  from  wood,  m  ith  iron  tipped  wedges.  With  these  plows 
man  acquired  his  first  crude  knowledge  of  extensive  agriculture,  and 
he  used  them,  with  slight  modifications,  until  the  first  half  of  the 
eighteenth  century. 

With  wood,  man  learned  to  build  homes  and  create  architecture; 
to  construct  ships  and  master  navigation;  to  build  bridges  and  develop 
the  science  of  mechanics ;  to  generate  steam  and  harness  its  power  for 
transportation.  Modern  electric  and  magnetic  science  owes  its  birth 
to  fossd  resin  from  coniferous  forests  which  were  prehistoric  when 
PHny,  seventy  years  before  the  dawn  of  Christianity,  recorded  the  fact 
that  amber,  when  rubbed,  acquired  the  power  of  attracting  straws. 
Thus,  in  diverse  ways,  fundamental  principles  have  first  been  worked 
out  from  wood,  and  the  knowledge  thus  gained— primitive  though  it 
may  now  appear — has  been  applied  in  developing  the  use  of  stone,  iron, 
steel,  concrete  and  other  materials.  The  process  still  goes  on.  Within 
a  decade,  man  has  conquered  the  air  with  a  wooden  plane  and  is  today 
applying  the  results  of  his  experiments  to  the  fabrication  of  an  all 
metal  machine. 

It  is  a  striking  fact  that  through  the  agency  of  wood,  man  has 
acquired  more  fundamental  knowledge  of  related  subjects  than  he 
has  of  the  properties  of  wood  itself.  In  the  development  of  his  wood 
craft,  he  has  been  likened  to  the  growing  child  who,  building  with 
blocks,  acquires  an  ever  larger  consciousness  of  their  adaptability  to 
new  figures  as  experience  matures  his  mind.  Spurred  by  personal 
needs  and  the  rewards  of  commercialism,  however,  man  fashioned  wood 
into  many  scores  of  standard  products,  about  which  trade-crafts  took 
shape  and  became  clearly  defined  through  many  centuries  of  compe- 
tition and  zealous  individualism.  He  thus  built  up  a  great  diversified 
mass  of  wood-using  lore,  based,  not  upon  a  scientific  knowledge  of  the 
many  different  kinds  of  wood  used,  but  upon  rule  of  thumb  methods, 
behefs,  customs  and  prejudices,  passed  down  from  one  generation  to 
another  as  expanded  by  the  increasing  complexities  of  each  clianging 
age. 

Into  this  accumulated  mass  of  trade  practices,  business  methods, 
and  usages  built  up  through  the  years,  there  was  injected,  even  up  to 


(^AAAT/lkAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMAAAAAAAAAA 


Henry  S.  Graves 

19IO-  1920 


William  B  Greeley  ^ 


.^ 


«>vwvvvvvvv«vvvvvwvvvvwvtfww«««vv«w«*vvv«AVV*v*vv«v«v«*ir»«v*¥«v*vvirvvvvvvvvvv«v^ 


The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 


the  beginning  of  our  present  century,  little  knowledge  derived  from 
pure  scientific  research  into  wood  products  and  the  wood  products 
industries.  However,  by  that  time  certain  forces  were  well  under  way 
that  were  destined  shortly  to  produce  results  and  create  an  entirely 
new  factor  in  the  field  of  wood-using  trade  methods  of  America,  and 
other  countries  also. 


CHAPTER    II 
EARLY   PERSPECTIVES   OF   FOREST   UTILIZATION 

Abundant  forests  have  made  the  United  States  the  greatest 
M'ood-using  nation  of  the  world,  but  they  have  made  it  also  the  great- 
est wood  waster  of  the  world.  Our  lumbering  i)ractice  has  been  built 
upon  supplying  the  best  the  forest  affords  and  leaving  the  rest  as 
waste.  Our  forefathers  commenced  the  practice  because  they  had 
more  forests  than  they  knew  how  to  use.  Pioneers,  moving  westward, 
continued  the  system.  And  limiber  consumers,  educated  to  expect 
the  best,  continued  to  demand  the  best.  Thus  the  great  dictator  of 
forest  utilization  in  this  country  has  ])een  custom  instead  of  specialized 
knowledge  of  the  properties  of  our  different  woods.  The  power  of 
knowledge  has  been  capitalized  in  a  mechanical  science  for  converting 
forests  into  lumber  and  manufactured  products,  a  science  which  is 
unsurpassed  anywhere  in  the  world,  and  which  has  made  wood  avail- 
able in  a  greater  variety  of  forms  than  any  other  material  with  which 
man  comes  in  contact.  It  has  made  wood,  as  Roosevelt  asserted,  an 
indispensable  part  of  the  structure  upon  which  our  civilization  rests, 
but  its  ready  convertibility  to  man's  multitudinous  needs  appears  to 
have  held  passive,  so  long  as  forests  seemed  inexhaustible,  the  stimulus 
to  study  its  properties. 

The  world  today  very  generally  accepts  the  view  that  forests  are 
essential  to  progress  and  to  social  and  industrial  supremacy.     The 


V  Dkcknxial  Record 


culture  of  the  forest-starved  regions  of  Europe  leaves,  in  the  minds 
of  those  who  have  had  opjjortunities  to  make  comparisons,  no  doubt 
that  there  is  a  point  belo^v  which  forests  can  not  safely  be  reduced. 
Europe  itself  recognized  that  fact  several  centuries  ago,  but  America, 
with  its  boundless  forests,  once  thought  inexhaustible,  is  just  begin- 
ning fully  to  awaken  to  the  cause  of  forest  conservation  espoused  in 
this  country  a  few  decades  ago  by  a  small  group  of  far-seeing  men. 
The  present  Forest  Service,  a  bureau  of  the  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  is  the  outgro^^i:h  of  the  study,  thought  and  efforts 
of  these  men. 

Their  purposes,  however,  were  much  opposed  and  misunderstood 
from  the  start.  A  common  misconception  was  that  they  j^roposed  to 
lock  up  the  forests  against  use ;  whereas  what  they  sought  was  to  re- 
place heedless  and  wasteful  exploitation  by  rational  management  of 
the  forests  and  by  rational  utilization  of  their  products.  They  spoke 
from  the  experience  of  older  countries  and  urged  tlie  application  of 
knowledge  then  available  as  well  as  the  acquirement  of  an  additional 
knowledge  needed  to  })iit  our  forest  lands  and  our  wood  crops  to  their 
highest  use  in  perpetuity.  They  stressed  the  forest  management  that 
they  had  learned  from  Ein-ope.  but  they  did  not  fail  to  recognize  that 
a  knowledge  of  the  properties  of  our  many  different  woods  is  funda- 
mental to  the  economical  utilization  and  conservation  of  our  forest 
resources. 

In  tlie  report  of  the  Division  of  Forestry  for  the  year  1887.  E.  E. 
Fernow.  Chief  of  the  Division,  wrote: 

"The  properties  upon  which  the  use  of  wood,  its  technology,  is 
based,  sliould  be  well  knoMn  to  the  forest  manager  if  he  wishes  to 
])roduce  a  crop  of  given  quality  useful  for  definite  purposes.  Our 
ignorance  in  this  direction  has  been  most  fruitful  in  fostering  a 
wasteful  use  of  our  natural  forests,  and  the  same  ignorance  mis- 
leads even  the  forest  planter  of  today  in  choosing  the  timber  he 
])]ants  and  the  locality  to  Avliich  he  adapts  it.  How  the  Black 
Walnut  lias  ])een  sacrificed  for  fence  material,  how  the  valuable 
Chestnut  Oak  lias  rotted  in  the  forest  unused,  how  the  Hemlock 
has  been  despised  and  passed  by  when  it  might  have  been  suc- 
cessfully used  to  lengtlien  the  duration  of  White  Pine  supplies, 
how  tim])ers  are  now  used  in  unnecessarily  large  sizes  and  applied 


The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 


to  uses  for  which  they  are  not  tulMpted.  while  other  timbers  are 
neglected  for  uses  for  which  they  are  adajDted — all  these  unfortu- 
nate misapplications  are  or  have  been  due  to  lack  of  knowledge 
of  the  technological  properties  of  our  timbers. 

"Every  day,  almost.  ])rings  to  light  a  new  use  for  this  or  that 
timber,  every  now  and  then  lumber  papers  are  weighing  the  serv- 
iceability of  this  or  that  wood.  Instead  of  proceeding  on  a  sure 
and  scientific  basis  in  recommending  the  application  of  any  wood 
to  a  particular  use,  opinions  pro  and  con  are  brought  to  bear,  and 
the  proper  development  of  our  resources  is  thereby  retarded. 
Yesterday  it  was  Redwood  that  needed  commendation  in  the 
market,  today  it  is  Cypress  that  must  be  praised  in  order  to  re- 
ceive due  appreciation.  Our  timbers  have  never  been  fairly 
tested,  or  if  they  have  their  qualities  are  not  duly  appreciated. 
Many  kinds  have  their  use  and  value  still  hardly  recognized; 
woods  of  exceptional  value  for  manufacturing  purposes  are  con- 
sumed for  fuel;  valuable  and  scarce  varieties  are  used  for  coarse 
work,  while  cheaper  and  more  abundant  sorts  are  available.  Still 
less  knowledge  exists  in  regard  to  the  conditions  of  growth  w^hich 
influence  the  quality  of  woods.  Crude  'experience'  has  been  our 
guide,  and  'crude'  has  remained  our  'knowledge'." 

Fifteen  years  later,  Theodore  Roosevelt,  then  President,  broke 
all  jDresidential  jirecedents  by  addressing,  at  a  private  home  in  Wash- 
ington, a  meeting  of  the  Society  of  American  Foresters,  an  organiza- 
tion wdiich  embraced  the  handful  of  American  foresters  of  that  time. 
During  his  talk,  he  said: 

"And  now,  first  and  foremost,  you  can  never  afford  to  forget 
for  one  moment  Avhat  is  the  object  of  our  forest  policy.  That 
object  is  not  to  preserve  the  forests  because  they  are  beautiful, 
though  that  is  good  in  itself,  nor  because  they  are  refuges  for  the 
wild  creatures  of  the  wilderness,  though  that,  too,  is  good  in  itself; 
but  the  primary  object  of  our  forest  policy,  as  of  the  land  pohcy 
of  the  United  States,  is  the  making  of  prosperous  homes.  It  is 
part  of  the  traditional  policy  of  home  making  of  our  country. 
Every  other  consideration  comes  as  secondary.  The  whole  effort 
of  the  Government  in  dealing  with  the  forests  must  be  directed 
to  this  end,  keeping  in  view  the  fact  that  it  is  not  only  necessary 
to  start  the  homes  as  prosperous,  but  to  keep  them  so.     That  is 


A  Decexxial  Record 


why  the  forests  huxc  got  to  be  kept.  You  can  start  a  prosperous 
home  by  destroying  the  forests,  but  you  can  not  keep  it  prosper- 
ous that  way.  .  .  .  'Forestry  is  the  preservation  of  forests 
by  wise  use'." 

In  the  midst  of  tim])er  plenty,  the  work  of  early  pioneers  to 
advance  the  cause  of  forestry  in  this  country  belied  itself  to  many,  but 
in  the  years  that  followed,  the  rapidly  enlarging  spectacle  of  forest 
devastation  accompanied  by  growing  scarcity  and  increasing  prices 
of  wood,  left  in  doubt  no  longer  the  accuracy  of  their  vision  or  the 
justice  of  their  endeavors.  Today  the  problem  of  forest  conservation 
stands  out  as  one  of  the  most  vital  economic  issues  of  the  nation. 
Knowledge  accumulated  during  the  past  thirty  years  has  served  to 
crystalize  the  problem,  for  it  is  now  generally  conceded  that  its  solu- 
tion lies  along  two  main  lines  of  endeavor :  the  first  is  by  stopping  fur- 
ther devastation  through  such  measures  as  will  afford  adequate  pro- 
tection and  regulation  of  our  remaining  forests  and  Mill  put  our  forest- 
bearing  lands  on  a  permanent  forest  producing  basis;  the  second  is 
the  curtailment  of  the  annual  drain  upon  the  remaining  forests  by  more 
complete  and  scientific  use  of  the  trees  cut,  a  use  arrived  at  by  an 
accurate  knowledge  of  the  properties  of  the  various  woods  and  their 
economic  use. 


A  Dix'ExxiAL  Rkcokd 


CHAPTER    III 
THE    FOREST    PRODUCTS    LABORATORY 


ESTABIJSHMEXT 

The  national  need  for  researcli  in  forest  prodncts  was  recognized 
from  the  earhest  days  of  the  Di\'isi()n  of  Forestry  and  became  increas- 
ingly apparent  as  forest  exliaustion  in  the  east  advanced.  Eventu- 
ally it  asserted  itself.  The  scanty  appropriations  of  the  first  decade 
of  American  governmental  forestry  provided  little  money  for  research 
in  forest  products,  and  between  1890  and  1910  work  was  mainly  of  a 
cooperative  natm-e  and  was  done  largely  at  various  universities  where 
laboratory  facilities  were  obtaina])le  or  buildings  were  available  for 
housing  testing  equipment. 

Studies  of  the  mechanical  properties  of  the  more  important  woods 
were  begun  at  the  universities  of  AVashington,  Yale,  Purdue,  Califor- 
nia, and  Oregon.  Some  preservation  and  kiln  drying  studies  were 
undertaken  at  Yale,  research  in  naval  stores  initiated  in  the  South, 
and  a  small  experimental  pulp  mill  erected  in  Boston.  Wood  chem- 
istry and  the  chemistry  of  M'Ood  preservatives  were  also  handled  in  a 
limited  way  at  this  latter  place  in  1907. 

During  the  following  two  years  it  became  increasingly  evident 
that  greater  facilities  for  research  would  have  to  be  provided,  and  that 
centralization  was  essential  to  the  success  of  the  work.  Tlie  very  na- 
ture of  researcli  demands  coordination  of  all  related  facts  and  studies, 
and  this  coordination  is  difficult  to  secure  without  centralization  of 
allied  research  agencies. 

^V  very  large  part  of  tlie  researcli  Avork  of  the  Forest  Service  had 
been  carried  out  in  cooperation  with  various  universities,  which  had 
been  glad  to  place  some  of  their  facilities  at  the  disposal  of  the  service, 
and  so  it  Mas  natural  that,  in  the  need  for  increased  facilities,  thought 
should  be  given  to  the  universities.  A  thorough  canvass  of  Washing- 
ton had  already  shown  the  utter  futility  of  trying  to  rent  suitable 
quarters  for  the  small  sum  available. 


10  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

A  survey  of  available  and  potential  facilities  at  a  number  of  the 
universities  was  therefore  made.  An  unexpectedly  large  number  of 
universities  showed  a  keen  interest,  and  very  generous  offers  were 
made  by  several.  Finally,  the  oft'er  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin, 
which  included  the  erection  of  a  suitable  building  and  the  furnishing 
of  heat,  light,  and  power  for  it,  was  accepted.  Construction  started 
in  the  summer  of  1909,  and  the  installation  of  equipment  was  begun 
in  the  fall,  shortly  after  the  nucleus  of  the  organization  arrived  from 
Washington  and  established  temporary  quarters. 

At  the  time  of  the  formal  opening,  June  4,  1910,  the  personnel 
consisted  of  about  45  people,  drawn  from  the  various  lines  of  work 
imder  way  elsewhere.  IMuch  of  the  credit  for  the  progress  of  the  lab- 
oratory ])elongs  to  the  small  group  of  loyal  and  enthusiastic  workers 
comprising  the  original  staff  of  the  laboratory.  They  are  the  ones 
who  laid  down  the  general  plans  for  the  fundamental  researches, 
worked  out  the  details  of  procedure,  and  designed  much  of  the  special 
apparatus  and  machinery  which  was  required  for  the  preparation  of 
the  specimens  and  the  carrying  out  of  the  tests.  These  preliminaries 
having  been  worked  out,  they  jDroceeded  to  ol^tain  the  groundwork 
of  information  upon  which  most  of  the  war  work  and  the  majority  of 
the  later  general  and  special  studies  were  based. 

Growth 

The  first  years  of  the  laboratory's  existence  were  devoted  to  the 
task  of  getting  the  plant  running  and  obtaining  a  grasp  of  funda- 
mentals. 'No  marked  increases  in  appropriations  were  secured,  and 
expansion  was  comparatively  slow.  It  was  possible,  however,  to 
broaden  the  scope  of  the  work  gradually,  and  to  establish  satisfactory 
contact  with  the  principal  forest  products  industries. 

When  the  United  States  entered  the  war  in  the  spring  of  1917, 
the  laboratory  staff  numbered  eighty-four  persons,  a  mass  of  funda- 
mental data  on  the  properties  of  w^ood  had  been  accumulated  and 
good  contact  with  the  wood-using  industries  had  been  established. 
Thus  equipped,  the  laboratory  immediately  bent  all  its  efforts  to  ^var 
work,  recognizing  that  the  wood  would  play  a  major  part  in  the  con- 
flict. It  immediately  made  its  knowledge  and  facilities  available  to 
all  the  other  branches  of  the  government  which  had  need  of  them.     An 


A  Deckxxial  Record  11 

analysis  of  the  entire  wood  and  forest  products  situation,  from  the 
standijoint  of  war  needs,  was  begun  at  once,  and  steps  were  taken  to 
secure  the  vast  amount  of  information  which  this  analysis  showed 
would  be  needed  by  the  War  and  Xavy  Departments. 

Contact  was  established  with  the  various  branches  of  these  de- 
partments and  others  doing  war  work,  and  systematic  cooperation 
undertaken.  Funds  were  made  available  by  the  cooperating  depart- 
ments, and  the  personnel  of  the  laboratory  was  increased  as  rapidly 
as  men  could  l)e  trained  for  the  specialized  work.  This  expansion  con- 
tinued throughout  the  war,  and  on  armistice  day  the  force  numbered 
458. 

Many  of  the  problems  presented  to  the  laboratory  were  solved 
immediately  with  the  knowledge  available.  Others  were  of  new  and 
specialized  character  and  required  the  construction  of  special  ma- 
chinery and  the  making  of  many  special  tests.  The  experience  and 
the  vision  of  the  older  men  in  the  various  branches  of  the  work  proved 
to  be  invaluable  in  the  planning  and  execution  of  these  special  investi- 
gations. It  is  safe  to  say  tliat  a  large  measure  of  the  usefulness  of  the 
laboratory  during  the  war  would  have  been  lost  had  these  men,  instead 
of  remaining  in  the  organization,  answered  the  many  calls  to  other 
fields  and  gone  where  greater  financial  reward  and  personal  gain 
Mould  have  resulted. 

]Many  developments  of  the  war,  new  inventions  and  new  proc- 
esses, chemical  and  physical,  born  under  the  stimulus  of  war  necessity 
and  devoted  to  military  use  were  found  after  the  armistice  to  be  of 
value  in  peace  times  industry,  either  with  or  without  modifications. 

In  the  poison  gas  campaign  normal  time  industry  profited  by 
discoveries  that,  lacking  the  stress  of  national  emergency,  might  not 
have  come  in  years  of  dc^•cl()])ment. 

The  unl)elieva.ble  progress  in  aeronautics  in  a  brief  four  years, 
at  once,  upon  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  was  converted  to  commercial, 
sporting  and  other  transportation,  such,  for  instance,  as  the  mails. 
The  same  thing  happened  in  many  fields,  among  them  forest  products 
research. 

During  the  war,  no  effort  liad  been  made  to  ])ublish  and  distribute 
the  results  of  the  lal)oratory\s  researches,- — in  fact,  a  very  large  per- 
centage of  the  war  work  was  secret  and  confidential  and  did  not  permit 
of  publication.     Special  effort  has  since  been  made  l)y  the  entire  or- 


The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 


ganization  to  disseminate  as  much  of  the  accumulated  information  as 
has  useful  application  among  the  industries. 

The  re-establishment  of  many  of  the  contacts,  which  Mere  broken 
during  the  war,  was  undertaken,  and  fundamental  researches,  tem- 
porarily laid  aside,  were  resumed.  Plans  were  perfected  for  further 
study  of  several  new  lines  of  research  undertaken  during  the  war.  and 
for  rounding  out  the  investigative  program  of  the  laboratory. 

Orc;axizatiox 

The  laboratory  is  organized  upon  a  basis  intended  to  yield  the 
greatest  measure  of  scientific  results  with  the  minimum  amount  of 
time  and  energy  devoted  to  the  mere  mechanics  of  operation,  and  the 
routine  of  the  organization  is  centered  almost  entirely  in  separate 
service  sections;  so  that  the  research  men  may  be  relieved,  as  much  as 
\  possible,  from  everything  except  the  planning  and  execution  of  re- 
search investigations.  This  type  of  organization  has  proved  itself 
verj^  well  adapted  to  research  institutions,  since,  in  the  final  analysis, 
the  success  of  a  research  institution  depends  in  greater  measure,  than 
is  the  case  with  most  organizations,  upon  the  individuals  composing 
its  staff.  Research  is  most  individualistic;  and  while  it  is  possible  for 
the  leaders  in  the  organization  to  plan  and  direct  the  research  of  the 
various  men,  the  success  of  each  project  depends  to  an  unusual  degree 
upon  the  man  immediately  in  charge  of  it. 

The  technical  w^ork  of  the  laboratory  is  divided  among  seven 
sections,  each  of  these  units  devoting  its  investigations  to  certain  well 
defined  fields.  In  addition  to  the  research  sections  there  are  four 
service  units  carrying  on  the  many  functions,  such  as  finance,  engi- 
neering, maintenance,  personnel  details  and  so  fortli,  essential  to  the 
smooth  working  of  an  organization  of  the  size  of  the  laboratory.  In 
these  service  units  is  grouped  for  convenience  the  office  that  handles 
the  editorial  work,  and  to  this  office  is  assigned  the  responsibility  for 
the  general  dissemination  of  the  results  of  all  the  laboratory's  re- 
search. Every  effort  is  made  to  reach  the  entire  wood  industrial  field 
through  a  variety  of  mediums.  Coordination  of  research  activities 
is  handled  through  a  small  subdivision,  tributary  to  the  director's 


A  Decexxiat.  Record  13 

office,  acting  as  a  balance  wheel  or  governor  to  the  entire  program  of 
the  research  portion  of  the  laboratory. 

To  one  interested  in  getting  a  more  intimate  grasp  of  the  lab- 
oratory organization  scheme  a  study  of  the  chart  on  the  following  page 
will  serve  better  tlian  a  descriptive  effort.  Further,  there  can  be 
gained  from  this  chart  a  good  general  idea  of  the  main  lines  of  research 
pursued  at  the  present  time  (1921 ) . 

Forest  Service  Products  Offices 

A  discussion  of  the  organization  of  the  Forest  Products  I^ab- 
oratory  would  not  be  comiDlete  without  mentioning  the  forest  products 
offices  in  several  of  the  headquarters  of  the  western  districts  of  the 
Forest  Service.  While  not  a  part  of  the  Madison  organization,  their 
work  is  intimately  tied  in  with  the  laboratory  through  chiefly  furnish- 
ing a  close  contact  with  the  industries  in  the  several  districts. 

The  offices  of  the  District  Foresters  at  INIissoula,  San  Francisco 
and  Portland  are  assigned  one  or  more  men  to  handle  the  work  in  this 
field  that  occurs  within  the  states  covered  by  these  offices.  Reporting 
to  the  District  Forester  at  Portland  there  is  also  a  timber  testing  lab- 
oratory maintained  in  cooperation  with  the  University  of  Washing- 
ton, at  Seattle,  which  works  on  local  problems  referred  to  it  directly 
or  indirectly. 

The  personnel  of  the  district  products  offices  ofl:'ers  broader 
outlets,  in  somewhat  remote  regions,  for  the  Avork  of  the  laboratory 
than  otherwise  would  prevail. 

Handling  many  local  problems  directly  on  the  ground  the  field 
men  are  also  enabled  to  rapidly  obtain  for  the  industries  information 
or  special  investigations  from  the  laboratory  tlu'ough  interior  organi- 
zation channels.  To  these  same  offices  the  laboratory  in  turn  occa- 
sionally refers  problems  that  can  be  handled  better  in  the  field.  The 
relationship,  in  the  final  analysis,  is  the  logical  outcome  of  the  insep- 
arable tie  that  the  development  of  forest  products  utilization,  repre- 
sented by  tlie  laboratory,  has  to  tlie  silvicultural  and  management 
aspects  of  national  forestry  practice  in  this  country. 


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]()  The  Fokest  Phoducts  Laboratoky 


Equipment 

3Ir.  Howard  Weiss,  director  of  the  laboratory-  from  1912  to  1917, 
tells  the  following  story  of  conditions  prior  to  the  establishment  of  the 
laboratory : 

"xVt  that  time  I  was  in  the  office  of  Wood  Preservation,  and 
was  in  charge  of  the  Section  of  Research,  which  consisted  of 
myself  and  the  title.  Since  we  had  no  permanent  laboratory,  we 
liad  to  move  around  from  place  to  place  with  what  little  equip- 
ment we  could  gather  together. 

"It  was  about  this  time  that  I  was  sent  to  the  great  Southern 
Lumber  Company  at  Bogalusa,  La.,  to  show  them  how  to  pre- 
serve timber.  All  I  had  was  two  galvanized  iron  tanks  which  I 
had  had  made  at  a  cost  of  about  $20  each." 

From  this  meager  outfit  has  grown  the  present  thoroughly 
equipped  section  of  wood  preservation  at  the  la])oratorv,  with  a  large 
pressure  treating  plant  handling  several  dozen  ties  at  a  charge,  smaller 
pressure  cylinders,  one  of  which  is  capable  of  injecting  preservatives 
at  a  pressure  of  600  pounds  to  the  square  inch,  and  much  auxiliary  and 
special  apparatus  permitting  carrying  on  of  preservative  trea' 
according  to  any  commercial  or  experimental  process. 

Handling  as  it  does  the  glue  and  laminated  wood  studies,  the 
section  of  preservation  is  also  suitably  equipped  with  glue  mixing  and 
spreading  machines,  hot  and  cold  presses,  strength  test  machines,  an 
aircraft  propeller  manufacturing  plant  and  a  series  of  conditioning 
rooms  where  temperature  and  humidity  are  under  control. 

The  first  efforts  at  wood  testing  in  this  country  were  strength 
tests  on  timbers  of  several  species  of  American  woods.  In  this  sense 
one  may  say  that  the  study  of  timber  mechanics  of  wood  was  the  lead- 
ing field  of  research.  Today  the  equipment  of  this  important  part 
of  the  laboratory  is  especially  complete,  and  most  of  tlie  equipment 
was  designed  by  the  laboratory  engineers. 

A  timber  thirty  feet  in  length  is  readily  accommodated  in  the 
capacious  jaws  of  the  new  million-pound  testing  machine  recently 
erected  as  part  of  the  equipment  of  the  timber  mechanics  laboratory. 
This  same  giant  of  wood  ])reakers  will  test  the  strength  of  horizontal, 
])uilt-up  beams,  trusses  and  girders  with  a  length  as  great  as  eighty 


ERECTION   OF   THE   MILLION    I'OUND   TIMBER   TESTING   MACHINE    (1920) 


18  The  Forest  Pkoducts  Laboratory 

feet.  While  this  indicates  the  inaxiiiiiini  capacity  of  the  Forest  Prod- 
ucts Laboratory  to  test  timbers  and  huge  built-up  members,  the  equip- 
ment for  lesser  parts  is  especially  complete.  Ten  machines  capable 
of  applying  breaking  strains  of  from  10.000  to  200,000  pounds  are 
also  available.  Toughness  and  impact  resistance  are  measured  on 
other  machines,  while  man}^  special  tools  and  rigs  are  here  for  special 
tests,  including  those  for  testing  plywoods.  Most  of  these  machines 
are  original  devices  that  first  saw  the  hght  of  day  in  the  laboratory 
as  need  for  them  arose  in  the  progress  of  the  development  of  the 
technique  of  testing  wood. 

The  box  laboratory,  a  part  of  the  work  of  timber  mechanics,  is 
equipped  with  two  tumbling  drums,  the  larger  of  which  can  take  boxes 
weighing  as  much  as  half  a  ton,  and  reduce  them  slowly  or  quickly  to 
a  shattered  wreck — the  quickness  of  the  breaking  depending  on  the 
amount  of  resistance  built  into  the  box  by  its  designers.  Here  also 
can  be  measured  the  ability  of  a  box  to  stand  tension  and  compression, 
drop  tests  and  similar  abuse. 

The  drying  of  wood  by  almost  any  conceivable  variation  of  tem- 
perature, humidity  and  circulation  within  practical  limits  is  possible 
in  the  laboratory  equipment  of  six  dry  kilns  of  commercial  size,  all 
closely  regulated  and  entirely  automatic  and  autographic  in  their 
operation.  In  addition  to  the  kilns,  a  conditioning  apparatus  permits 
fundamental  research  in  the  conditioning  and  treating  of  wood  under 
pressures  or  gases,  and  under  absolutely  controlled  factors.  This 
apparatus,  as  well  as  the  kilns  and  many  supplemental  devices,  was 
designed  by  laboratory  engineers. 

ComjDletely  equipped  to  make  wood  pulp  by  any  of  the  commer- 
cial chemical  or  mechanical  processes  and  convert  the  pulp  into  paper 
by  cylinder  or  Fourdrinier  process,  the  pulp  and  paper  section  meas- 
ures up  to  the  general  standards  of  equipment  existing  throughout  the 
laboratory.  The  list  of  equipment  sounds  like  a  combination  of  several 
paper-making  plants,  but  of  course  everj^hing  is  on  a  laboratory 
rather  than  on  a  commercial  scale.  The  main  items  recognizable  by 
the  paper  manufacturer  are  a  wood  chipper,  sulphite  and  soda  digesters 
and  necessary  auxiliaries,  grinder,  pulp  press,  wet  machine,  beaters, 
Jordan  and  a  22-inch  combination  cylinder  and  Fourdrinier  paper- 
making  machine.  Pressers,  driers,  colenders,  etc.,  complete  the  list. 
In  addition  to  complete  chemical  equipment,  a  constant  humidity  and 


A  Decexxial  Record  19 

temperature  room  is  maintained  for  strength-  tests  on  the  finished 
products.  i 

The  section  devoted  to  derived  products,  deahng  with  the  many 
phases  of  the  chemistry  of  wood,  carries  as  its  working  tools  the  usual 
chemical  lahoratory  equipment.  ]Miich  special  equipment  is  used, 
especially  instruments  for  measuring  acciu'ately  the  various  physical 
and  chemical  properties  of  oils,  sugars  and  solutions.  Specialized 
equipment  consists  of  complete  semi-commercial  plants  for  produc- 
tion of  ethyl  alcohol  and  stock  food  from  saM'dust ;  destructive  distil- 
lation of  hardwoods  and  softwoods;  the  extraction  with  volatile  solv- 
ents of  resinous  woods,  Maste  paper  products  and  other  materials. 

Pathological  work,  largely  a  study  of  fungi  and  their  effect  on 
wood  in  many  fields  of  use  and  from  many  viewpoints,  is  carried  on  by 
a  cooperating  office  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry.  The  equipment 
for  the  work  is  complete,  consisting  of  all  necessary  apparatus  and 
medimns  for  studying  fungi  imder  various  conditions.  Included  in 
the  working  equipment  are  pure  cultm-e  sam])les  of  various  wood  fungi 
used  for  comparative  studies. 

The  enumeration  of  tliis  sundry  pliysical  e(iuipnient  of  the  lab- 
oratory is  made  mainly  to  outline  briefly  to  the  prospective  user,  the 
man  with  a  wood  problem  ])ut  unacquainted  with  tlie  laboratory,  Avhat 
can  he  expected  in  the  way  of  a  capacity  to  handle  that  problem.  The 
enumeration  also  indicates  the  growth  in  the  science  of  wood  technol- 
ogy and  research  in  ten  years,  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  at  the 
time  of  the  establishment  of  tlie  laboratory,  an  uncharted  sea  lay  be- 
fore the  youtliful  explorer.  INIuch  of  the  complex  testing  machinery 
in  use  at  the  laboratory  stands  as  a  marker  or  buoy  in  the  portion  of  the 
unknown  tliat  has  been  cliarted.  A  vast  and  unlimited  field  yet  re- 
mains ahead. 

Persoxxee 

It  has  been  said  that  an  institution  is  but  the  lengthened  shadow 
of  a  great  man.  The  laboratory,  from  its  rather  composite  nature, 
more  properly,  as  it  stands  today,  is  the  lengthened  shadow  of  many 
men.  To  its  esta])lisliment  and  to  its  development  many  men  have 
contrilmted  the  ])est  that  tliey  had  to  give.  Tlie  strength  of  the  lab- 
oratory in  its  own  particular  field,  after  the  brief  lapse  of  ten  years, 


fcAA<W>AAAAA<W>MAA^AA0AAAAAAAAft^A»<WVA40ftAA<yT'-ft*A<»«»AAA»ft»»A6AAAftA6AAAAA<VAAAAAAAAAA< 


m 


Three 
Directors 


^@ Jr 


McGarvey  Cline 

1<910-19I2 


Forest  Products 
Laboratory 


^ ^j 


Howard  F  Weiss 

1912-1917 


Carlile  P  Winslow 

1917- 


,i^ 


A  Decennial  Rkcokd 


testifies  that  this  best  was  no  mean  gift.  Recognition  of  the  abiHty 
of  the  men  who  have  been  associated  with  the  laboratory  by  indus- 
tries, by  technical  societies,  by  great  industrial  associations  and  by  the 
governments  of  this  and  other  countries  is  a  part  of  the  record  of  the 
la])oratory  that  in  itself  would  require  much  space  to  tell. 

It  has  been  told  elsewhere  that  the  need  for  the  laboratory  was 
recognized  for  many  years  before  its  creation  actually  became  a  physi- 
cal fact.  Of  interest  are  the  first  steps  in  forest  products  research, 
first  only  a  man  or  two  with  ideas,  then  the  establishment  of  small 
scattered  units  working  on  big  problems  with  but  meager  equipment 
and  limited  means  usually  nearest  the  point  where  the  problem  ex- 
isted. The  realization  grew  upon  some  of  these  pioneers  that  problems 
of  nation-wide  interest  involving  manv  industries  were  being  most 
inadequately  provided  for,  and  little  progress  being  made  toward  far- 
off  goals.  The  evolution  of  a  new  approach  toward  the  desired  ends 
marked  the  important  step  that  is  of  chief  interest  in  the  story  of  the 
Decennial.  ]Mr.  Howard  F.  Weiss  saw  the  germ  of  the  present  lab- 
oratory conceived  and  described  it  in  an  address  to  members  of  tlie 
laboratory  several  years  ago. 

"It  was  in  1908  that  I  was  brought  face  to  face  M'ith  the  fool- 
ishness of  the  whole  situation.  I  felt  like  a  very  poor  repre- 
sentative of  the  greatest  government  on  earth  in  thus  trying  to 
demonstrate  the  art  of  j^reserving  timber  Avith  a  lack  of  funds  for 
effective  organization. 

"It  was  in  Washington  tliat  I  met  ^IcGarvey  C'line  who  was 
liaving  similar  difficulties  although  engaged  in  a  somewhat  dif- 
ferent line  of  work.  ]Many  an  evening  \ve  spent  discussing  pos- 
si])le  ways  of  putting  into  execution  the  plan  of  equipping  a 
suitable  laboratory,  with  the  lack  of  funds  always  confronting 
us.  Our  first  ground  gained  was  permission  to  spend  $125  per 
month  for  renting  a  l)uilding  in  which  we  might  locate  the  labora- 
tory. The  job  fell  to  me  to  find  a  ])uilding  for  this  purpose.  I 
spent  many  weeks  going  from  Chevy  Chase  to  Great  Falls  and 
all  through  Georgetown,  looking  uj)  buildings  Avith  sufficient  floor 
space,  and  which  could  be  rented  at  $12.5  per  month.  I  was  un- 
able even  to  get  an  abandoned  car  l)arn  for  this  amount. 

"Then  Cline  conceived  a  brilliant  idea.  It  was  to  secure  the 
cooperation  of  some  university.     I  did  not  tliink  this  Avas  a  very 


The  Forest  Peoducts  Laboratory 


good  move  but  the  more  we  talked  it  over,  the  more  I  became  in 
favor  of  it.  We  carried  the  proposition  to  ]Mr.  Pinchot,  the  For- 
ester, who  was  favorably  imj^ressed  with  the  idea  and  wrote  to 
about  a  dozen  universities  suggesting  the  scheme  to  them.  The 
idea  met  with  hearty  approval  and  resulted  in  establishing  the 
Forest  Products  Laborator^^  at  ^Madison  in  cooperation  with  the 
University  of  Wisconsin,  the  University  to  furnish  the  building, 
heat,  light  and  power. 

"The  credit  for  this  organization  belongs  to  Mr.  Cline,  as  he 
was  the  one  who  actually  conceived  the  idea  and  put  it  into  opera- 
tion. 

"Then  came  the  struggle  to  equip  the  place  for  which  we  had 
little  money.  I  had  $120  allot ed  to  me  to  equip  the  section  of 
Wood  Preservation,  in  which  I  was  specializing,  and  it  required 
$3,200  to  install  the  machinery  which  I  wanted." 

Under  these  handicaps  the  first  men  of  the  laboratory  laid  the 
foundation  upon  which  the  present  structure  has  its  footing.  McGar- 
vey  Cline  served  as  the  first  director  of  the  institution  in  whose  found- 
ing he  had  such  an  important  liand,  leading  in  1912  to  enter  com- 
mercial life  after  the  work  was  well  established. 

Others  who  played  leading  roles  in  the  work  of  the  early  days 
when  the  laboratory  was  still  in  the  formative  state  were  Mr.  William 
L.  Hall,  wdio,  as  Assistant  Forester,  had  administrative  charge  of  the 
laboratory  in  the  days  immediately  following  its  inception  and 
Dr.  W.  K.  Hatt  of  the  Purdue  University  faculty,  at  one  time  in 
charge  of  all  timber  test  work  for  tlie  Forest  Service  and  later  acting 
in  a  consulting  capacity  on  various  features  of  the  work,  especially  in 
timber  mechanics.  Through  the  days  of  the  war  emergency,  jVIr. 
Earl  H.  Clapp  was  the  Assistant  Forester  in  charge  of  the  Branch 
of  Research  of  which  the  laboratory  is  a  unit. 

Possibly  the  best  measure  of  the  worth  of  the  laboratory  is  an 
estimate  of  the  practical  value  of  the  research  results.  These  have 
been  described  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  next  measure  is  an  esti- 
mate of  the  caliber  of  the  men  that  make  up  its  personnel.  To  a  de- 
gree, the  two  are  naturally  inseparably  related.  The  record  of  the 
requests  made  by  wood  using  industries  and  other  points  of  laboratory 
contact,  for  laboratory  men  to  transfer  their  allegiance  to  these  other 
fields  speaks  well  for  the  ability  of  the  men  who  have  served  here.     A 


A  Decexnial  Record  23 

list  of  such  men  who  ha^e  left  the  technical  staff  of  the  laboratory  for 
other  fields  is  given  in  the  appendix  to  this  volume. 


C  HAPTER  IV 
TEX  YExVRS  OF  RESEARCH  IX  FOREST  PRODUCTS 


The  decade  following  the  founding  of  the  Forest  Products  Lab- 
oratory in  1910  is  marked  by  a  convulsive  uj^heaval. — economic,  so- 
cial and  political, — unsurpassed  in  modern  history.  In  the  Ignited 
States,  at  least,  the  ten-year  period  is  now  commonly  divided  into  the 
eras  "the  pre-war  years",  "during  the  war",  and  "the  post-war 
period".  The  latter  is,  of  course,  only  begun,  but  a  definite  readjust- 
ment and  new  alignment  of  economic  forces  is  already  in  the  making. 

So  in  discussing  the  laboratory  develoj)ment,  and  particularly  the 
field  of  its  accomplishments,  the  descriptive  effort  naturally  falls  into 
the  cycles :  pre-war  six  years,  war  period  of  two  years,  and  the  read- 
justment or  post-war  period  of  two  years.  The  first  two  are  here 
treated  in  some  detail;  the  latter  period  and  its  outstanding  features 
has  already  been  discussed. 

PkE-WAK    RKSEAECir 

Tlie  early  work  of  the  laboratory-  was  largely  fundamental  in 
character,  and  was,  in  many  instances,  a  continuation  of  investigations 
which  had  heen  under  way  at  one  or  more  of  the  various  smaller  lab- 
oratories whicli  were  discontinued  when  the  Forest  Products  Labora- 
tory was  organized.  In  fact,  full  credit  for  some  of  the  accomplish- 
ments described  in  this  chapter  belongs  to  the  pioneers  of  those  early 
days,  Avho  struggled  along  in  the  dark  with  practicallv  no  funda- 
mental knowledge  of  the  properties  of  wood  to  guide  them. 


^^£kTr 


^^^i 


A  Decennial  Record 


///  the  Mechanics  of  Timber 

While  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  arrange  the  various  subjects 
in  order  of  size  or  importance,  it  seems  natural  and  logical  to  give  first 
mention  to  the  basic  study  of  the  properties  of  American  woods.  This 
is.  M'ithout  doubt,  the  most  impoi-tant  series  of  tests  ever  conducted  on 
American  species,  not  only  in  actual  size,  but  also  in  importance  of 
results  seciu-ed.  Over  200,000  strength  tests  and  about  the  same  num- 
ber of  specific  gravity  and  moisture  determinations,  in  all  well  over 
half  a  million  individual  tests,  have  been  made,  covering  every  com- 
mercial species  in  the  country  and  many  of  only  minor  importance. 
The  tests  were  made  on  specimens  cut  from  typical  trees  and  were  so 
planned  and  executed  that  proper  analysis  of  the  results  has  j^ielded, 
besides  actual  and  comparative  strength  values  of  green  and  air-dry 
wood  of  the  various  species,  much  additional  information  of  funda- 
mental character,  such  as  the  relation  of  strength  to  weight,  of  strength 
to  the  height  in  the  tree,  the  effect  of  distance  from  the  pith  upon  the 
strength  properties,  and  the  relation  between  strength  and  rate  of 
growth. 

The  test  data  are  frequently  used  for  special  studies,  being  re- 
grouped and  analyzed  to  bring  out  whatever  unusual  property  or 
relation  of  properties  may  be  desired.  They  form  the  starting  point, 
also,  for  much  of  the  experimental  work  upon  structural  material  and 
parts  of  structures,  such  as  aircraft  parts. 

Work  of  previous  experimenters  has  shown  that  the  amount  of 
moistiu-e  present  in  the  wood  had  a  very  marked  effect  upon  its 
strength,  and  efforts  had  been  made  to  deduce  the  laws  underlying 
this  relation.  It  remained  for  the  timber  testing  laboratory  at  Yale 
to  plan  and  carry  out  a  series  of  tests  which  not  only  yielded  specific 
data  on  the  moisture-strength  relation  for  several  species,  but  also 
proved  the  existence  of  a  definite  point,  now  called  the  "fiber-satura- 
tion point",  beyond  which  the  amount  of  moisture  did  not  affect  either 
strength  or  shrinkage.  This  basic  information  is  in  constant  use  in 
all  of  tlie  studies  of  the  mechanical  and  physical  properties  of  wood. 

Tlie  requirements  for  grading  rules  for  structural  timbers  differ 
from  those  for  rough  and  worked  lumber  since  strength  is  a  very  im- 
portant consideration  in  structural  timber,  and  it  is  highly  desirable 
that  this  class  of  material  be  graded  on  the  basis  of  strength,  so  that  the 


The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 


"better"  grades  will  be  iiniformh^  stronger  than  the  poorer  ones.  This 
allows  higher  fiber  stresses  and  consequently  more  efficient  use.  since 
allowance  does  not  have  to  be  made  for  the  occasional  weak  piece  which 
slips  in  under  grading  rules  patterned  after  lumber  grading  rules. 
The  laboratory  has  studied  and  analyzed  the  effect  of  defects  and 
physical  properties  upon  the  strength  of  structural  material,  and  has 
drawn  up  grading  rules  for  the  two  princij^al  structural  timber  spe- 
cies. These  rules  have  been  adopted  by  the  associations  concerned  and 
are  now  in  everyday  use.  Tables  of  allowable  fiber  stresses  under 
various  conditions  of  service  to  be  used  with  these  rules,  have  also  been 
drawn  up.  So  far  as  known,  this  is  the  first  successful  attempt  on  a 
commercial  scale  to  grade  structural  timber  on  a  basis  of  strength. 

Efficient  design  of  any  article  requiring  strength  demands  not 
only  that  sufficient  strength  be  present,  but  also  that  this  strength  be 
secured  at  a  minimum  expenditure  of  material.  To  balance  the  con- 
struction by  the  elimination  of  surplus  material  is  frequently  more 
difficult  than  simply  to  strengthen  an  admittedly  weak  part  by  the 
addition  of  more  material.  Through  a  series  of  tests  upon  white  oak 
barrels,  in  which  the  barrels  were  subjected  to  various  kinds  of  tests, 
such  as  internal  pressure  tests  and  drop  tests,  the  laboratory  deter- 
mined the  proper  relation  among  stave  thickness,  head  thickness  and 
hoop  spacing  to  yield  the  best  service  with  the  smallest  amount  of 
material.  New  types  of  barrels,  based  upon  the  results  of  these  tests, 
have  been  approved  by  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission.  Just 
as  in  the  design  of  barrels,  so  also  with  boxes,  crates,  and  other  types 
of  shipping  containers,  one  of  the  most  important  design  problems  is 
to  secure  a  "balanced  construction"  affording  greatest  strength  at 
least  cost.  The  proper  selection  of  the  species  or  kind  of  wood  for 
various  uses  is  also  very  important. 

The  laboratory  has  perfected  a  box  testing  drum  giving  consistent 
results  which  indicate  the  value  of  any  type  of  construction  for  the 
shipment  of  goods  and  has  developed  various  standard  types  of  box 
constructions  which  have  been  adopted  by  the  associations  of  manu- 
facturers and  of  users  of  boxes.  It  has  also  investigated  and  tested 
the  relative  value  of  many  woods  for  box  making  and  divided  them 
into  four  groups  on  this  basis,  the  woods  in  each  group  to  be  used  inter- 
changeably.    This  work  represents  the  greatest  single  step  forward 


U.X    Tl^STIXG    J.\"   THK    l;](_;    TU.MDLI.XG   DRL'M— A   LAUORATORY   DEVICE   FOR 
QUICKLY    1)ETT-:r:MIX1XG    box    or    crate    ^VEAKXESSES 


28  The  Forest  Pkoducts  Laboratory 

in  box  design  and  proper  selection  of  box  species  which  has  so  far  been 
taken. 

Typical  of  various  studies  is  the  one  made  on  hickory.  A  large 
number  of  tests  on  spokes  and  other  vehicle  parts  showed  definitely 
that  "red"  hickory  was  not  inferior  to  "white"  hickory  in  its  mechani- 
cal properties,  and  that  grading  rules  discriminating  against  it  on 
account  of  color  were  basically  unsound.  Tests  on  larger  vehicle  parts 
such  as  axles,  bolst-^i's,  and  poles  brought  out  the  relative  merits  of 
hickory  and  various  substitute  woods  which  the  ever-increasing  short- 
age of  hickory  has  forced  into  use. 

The  relative  strength  of  various  species  of  wood  when  used  as 
telephone  or  other  electric  poles  has  been  determined  through  actual 
strength  tests  of  a  number  of  poles,  simulating  as  nearly  as  possible 
actual  conditions  in  service.  Several  series  of  tests  have  also  been 
made  upon  cross  arms  of  various  sizes  and  species,  to  determine  the 
strength  and  proper  design. 

For  many  years,  timber  cut  from  southern  pine  trees  which  had 
been  "bled"  or  turpentined  was  considered  inferior  on  that  account 
and  suffered  discrimination.  Strength  tests  made  upon  "bled"  and 
"unbled"  wood  showed  that  the  turpentining  had  not  injured  the  wood, 
and  enabled  this  material  to  assume  its  proper  commercial  value. 

In  the  Frcseroative  Treatment  of  Woods 

The  preservation  of  structural  timbers  against  decay  has  long 
been  recognized  as  very  desirable,  particularly  from  the  economic 
standpoint,  and  the  treatment  of  this  class  of  material  is  growing. 
There  has,  however,  been  considerable  confusion  concerning  the  effect 
of  the  treatment  upon  the  strength  of  the  material.  This  has  naturally 
tended  to  retard  the  progress  of  the  art.  The  laboratory  has  conducted 
a  series  of  tests  upon  various  species  of  wood,  treated  and  untreated, 
and  has  shown  just  how  much  each  kind  of  treatment  has  affected  the 
strength.  This  led  to  improvement  in  processes  which  were  injurious 
and  to  greater  confidence  in  the  strength  of  treated  timber,  besides 
furnishing  data  to  be  used  in  the  design  of  structures  of  treated  timber. 

Wooden  pihng  and  otlier  wooden  structures  placed  in  salt  water, 
especially  in  southern  waters,  suffer  severely  from  the  attacks  of  ma- 
rine borers  of  various  kinds,  and  the  annual  loss  from  this  one  cause 


A  Decexxtat-  Kecokd  29 


alone  is  treiiiendoiis.  Preservation  with  creosote  has  been  practiced 
for  many  years,  but  not  always  with  success.  The  laboratory  has 
made  extensive  studies  on  the  resistance  of  various  tars  and  creosotes 
and  their  fractions  to  marine  borer  attack,  and  has  collected  numerous 
service  records.  The  i^roblem  is  by  no  means  solved,  however,  and 
many  related  factors  such  as  temperature  and  sahnity  of  water,  avail- 
able food  supply  and  other  biological  aspects  of  the  question  need  fur- 
ther study  and  correlation.  A  great  deal  of  study  must  also  be  made 
upon  the  various  constituents  of  creosote  and  their  relative  effective- 
ness. 

The  discoloration  of  the  sapwood,  principally  of  pine,  which  is 
commonly  known  as  "sap  stain",  is  considered  a  defect  in  most  grades 
of  finishing  lumber,  and  causes  much  loss  from  degrade.  Various 
improvements  in  chemical  dipping  to  prevent  sap  stain  have  been 
developed  at  the  laboratory,  and  experiments  have  been  made  show- 
ing that  proper  kiln  drying  will  obviate  the  staining. 

An  objection  frequently  raised  against  creosoted  wood  block 
pavements  is  that  the  creosote  oozes  from  them  in  warm  weather,  pro- 
ducing a  very  disagreeable  and  dangerous  surface.  After  a  study  of 
the  various  factors  involved  and  the  making  of  a  number  of  experi- 
mental preservation  runs  on  wood  blocks,  a  method  was  evolved 
whereby  tlie  observation  of  certain  precautions  in  the  process  resulted 
in  reducing  to  a  minimum  the  o])jectionable  "bleeding"  common  up  to 
that  time.  In  the  drawing  of  specifications  adopted  by  the  American 
Wood  Preservers'  Association  and  the  American  Society  for  ^lunici- 
pal  Improvements,  for  the  treatment  and  laying  of  w^ood  })locks  in 
})avements,  the  laboratory  played  a  prominent  part. 

Knowledge  of  the  toxicity  and  preservative  value  of  different 
kinds  of  preservatives,  both  proprietary  and  otherwise,  is  fundament- 
ally necessary,  so  that  the  good  ones  may  be  developed  and  the  poor 
eliminated.  The  laboratory  has  made  tests  on  and  analyzed  practi- 
cally all  the  important  preservatives  which  have  been  on  the  market 
since  its  inception. 

Fundamental  information  concerning  the  relative  ease  of  treat- 
ment with  preservatives  has  been  obtained  for  all  of  the  woods  ordi- 
narily treated  in  this  country.  An  important  commercial  application 
of  this  information  lies  in  the  grouping  of  woods  for  treatment. 


A  Dkcexxiai,  Recokd  31 

A  subject  of  tremendous  importance,  upon  which  comparatively 
little  work  lias  })ecn  done  so  far  is  the  fireproofing  of  wood  through 
painting  or  the  injection  of  chemicals.  The  laboratory  has  developed 
apparatus  for  the  measurement  of  the  inflammability  of  either  natural 
or  "lireproofed"  wood  and  has  studied  the  relative  inflammability  of 
untreated  wood  of  many  species  and  of  specimens  treated  with  vari- 
ous kinds  of  flreproofing  agents.  The  relative  value  of  several 
methods  of  flreproofing  has  heen  studied  and  a  fireprooflng  paint  de- 
veloped. 

The  final  test  of  any  wood-preserving  process  or  material  lies  in 
the  results  which  it  yields  in  actual  service;  no  laboratory  test  can 
simulate  the  widely  varying  conditions  encountered  in  use  -with  suf- 
ficient accuracy.  Therefore,  a  large  number  of  experimental  tests  of 
treated  timber  have  been  placed  throughout  the  country,  principally 
in  cooperation  with  large  consumers  of  timber.  There  are  tests  of 
treated  ties,  poles,  fence  posts,  mine  timbers,  wood  block  pavements, 
and  piling  timbers,  some  of  which  have  been  in  place  for  al)Out  15 
years.  Various  treatments  and  various  species  of  wood  were  used  in 
each  case,  and  complete  records  of  treatment  and  periodical  inspection 
kept.  These  records  form  the  best  available  measure  of  the  value  of 
various  preservatives  and  preserving  processes  under  ordinary  service 
conditions. 

The  study  and  analysis  of  wood  preservatives  has  been  a  major 
project  since  the  inception  of  the  laboratory.  Especial  attention  has 
been  given  to  the  analysis  and  grading  of  coal-tar  and  water-gas-tar 
creosote,  and  a  number  of  refinements  have  been  made  in  the  art.  This 
work  lias  had  commercial  application  not  only  in  the  improvement  of 
specifications  for  preservatives.  ])ut  also  in  the  modification  of  the 
technique  of  plant  operation. 

///  Kiln  Drying  and  the  PJn/sical  Properties  of  Wood 

The  artificial  seasoning  of  wood,  conmionly  called  "kiln  drying", 
has  been  practiced  by  rule-of-thumb  methods  to  a  large  degree  for 
many  years:  and  in  any  event  it  was  a  commercial  practice  only  with 
comparatively  easy  drying  conditions,  since  little  progress  had  been 
made  in  handling  successfully  tlie  drying  of  species  and  sizes  of  mate- 
rials M-hich  did  not  readily  respond  to  the  generally  unscientific  proc- 


32  The  Forest  Products  Laiwratorv 

esses  in  vogue.  Recognizing  that,  after  all,  any  failures  to  succeed 
with  the  more  difficult  conditions  imposed  by  the  demands  of  industry 
for  wider  application  of  kiln  drying,  were  simply  attributable  to  a 
lack  of  fundamental  knowledge  of  the  physical  properties  of  the  wood 
to  be  dried,  the  laboratory  from  the  beginning  made  kiln  drying  one 
of  the  leading  studies.  The  study  centered  on  the  physics  of  timber 
and,  as  a  natural  auxiliary,  a  study  and  consequent  development  of 
apparatus  to  perform  the  drying  operation. 

The  outstanding  features  of  kiln  drying  as  developed  in  the  past 
ten  years  at  the  laboratory  are :  first,  absolute  control  of  moisture  and 
temperature  conditions  in  the  entire  kiln  or  any  part  of  it  at  any  stage 
of  the  drying;  second,  an  exact  knowledge  of  physical  changes  taking 
place  in  the  lumber  in  the  kiln  throughout  the  run;  and  third,  the  per- 
fection of  means  of  diagnosing  these  changes  and  applying  any  cor- 
rective measures  necessary  in  case  adverse  conditions  develop. 

The  natural  result  of  these  ten  years  of  study  has  been  a  notable 
contribution  to  the  knowledge  of  timber  physics,  the  invention  and 
development  of  several  types  of  kilns  and  auxiliary  apparatus  that 
have  been  quite  widely  adopted  in  the  fields  of  kiln  drying  where  they 
are  especially  suited,  the  extension  of  kiln  drying  with  its  economic 
advantages  to  new  fields  and  the  elimination  of  much  loss  that  had 
been  taken  mistakenly  for  granted  in  kiln  drying  practice. 

Schedules  for  proper  drying  with  practically  no  loss  from  de- 
grade, have  been  developed  for  many  species  and  sizes  of  material 
from  dimension  oak  to  smaller  sizes  of  pine.  As  to  the  kilns,  the  water 
spray  and  superheated  steam  types  are  largely  of  laboratory  develop- 
ment, and  they  have  received  the  main  attention  considering  the  ob- 
jectives in  mind. 

Fundamental  data  on  the  structure  of  wood,  as  revealed  under 
the  microscope,  serve  as  foundation  for  many  laboratory  studies,  and 
for  the  identification  of  wood  as  to  species  through  examination  of  the 
wood  itself  rather  than  by  a  study  of  the  botanical  characteristics  of 
the  tree.  Authentic  specimens  of  most  of  the  trees  native  to  this 
country  have  been  collected,  and  microscopic  slides  made  showing 
radial,  tangential,  and  cross  sections.  These  have  been  studied  and 
analyzed  and  a  key  constructed,  by  which  it  is  possible  to  distinguish 
most  commercial  species.  This  key  and  the  slides  are  in  constant  use 
in  the  identification  of  samples  of  wood  submitted  by  organizations 


A  Decennial  Record  33 

and  individuals  outside  of  the  laboratory,  as  well  as  for  routine  identi- 
fication within  the  organization. 

///  the  Use  of  Wood  for  Pulp  and  Paper 

One  of  the  most  comprehensive  investigations  completed  by  the 
laboratory  is  the  one  on  the  grinding  of  wood  for  mechanical  pulp, 
which  was  conducted  in  a  full  size  experimental  ground-wood  mill 
especially  constructed  for  the  pin-pose  at  Wausau,  Wisconsin. 

This  study  brought  out  the  fundamental  principles  underlying 
the  grinding  process  and  the  effect  of  certain  variables  such  as  press- 
ure, speed  and  quality  of  grinding  surface  upon  the  quality  and 
amount  of  pulp.  The  effect  of  preliminary  steaming  of  the  wood  upon 
the  pulp  was  determined  for  a  number  of  species,  and  the  suitability 
for  mechanical  pulp  of  a  large  number  of  American  woods  was  deter- 
mined. In  fact,  experiments  were  carried  out  on  all  species  which 
seemed  to  have  any  possibilities  whatever;  it  being  the  intention  to 
make  the  study  so  nearly  complete  that  no  further  work  would  have 
to  be  done  upon  grinding  for  many  years  to  come. 

Studies  of  similar  breadth  and  scope  have  been  under  way  for 
many  years  in  the  production  of  chemical  pulps  from  American  woods. 
Two  principal  objects  liave  })een  aimed  at,  viz.,  to  determine  the  funda- 
mental cooking  or  pulping  conditions  underlying  each  of  the  three 
principal  chemical  processes  (sulphite,  sulphate  and  soda),  and  to 
<letermine  the  suitability  of  the  individual  species  for  the  production 
of  pulp  by  the  process  or  processes  to  which  it  is  adapted.  These 
studies  were  not  quite  completed  when  war  activities  made  it  necessary 
to  a])andon  them  for  the  time  being.  They  hnve  since,  however,  been 
finished  and  the  results  made  available. 

Most  paper  is  bought  and  sold  upon  specification,  and  the  speci- 
fication usually  has  some  provision  concerning  the  ])hysical  properties. 
^Methods  of  determining  these  properties  have  })een  very  unsatisfac- 
tory, however,  and  knowledge  concerning  the  subject  lacking.  A 
special  testing  room  in  which  the  atmospheric  conditions  can  be  kept 
constant,  has  been  constructed  and  series  of  tests  made  to  develop  the 
inter-relationship  among  the  various  physical  properties  and  to  im- 
])rove  methods  of  test.  The  effect  of  atmospheric  moisture  u])on  the 
strength  of  paper  has  been  determined,  and  several  new  methods  of 
test  ])erfectcd. 


34  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

In  connection  with  the  investigations  into  the  fundamentals  of 
the  chemical  pulping  processes,  attention  has  been  directed  to  the  im- 
provement of  the  processes  in  their  various  details.  Typical  of  the 
improvements  worked  out  is  the  impregnation  of  the  chips  with  cook- 
ing liquor  before  starting  the  cook.  This  is  applicable  to  the  sulphate 
and  soda  processes  and  produces  more  uniform  cooking  and  increased 
yields  of  pulp,  at  the  same  time  reducing  the  cooking  period  and  the 
steam  consummation.  The  commercial  trials  of  this  improvement  were 
successfully  completed  shortly  before  the  declaration  of  war. 

There  are  many  problems  in  the  specialty  fields  which  could  be 
solved  if  time  and  funds  were  available.  On  some  of  these  the  labora- 
tory has  worked  as  occasion  arose.  In  connection  with  the  utilization 
of  waste  hemlock  bark  from  j^ulpwood,  a  new  use  for  spent  tanbark 
presented  itself,  and  experiments  were  undertaken  to  determine  its 
commercial  value. 

As  a  direct  result  of  this  work,  a  number  of  companies  began  the 
use  of  a  certain  percentage  of  spent  tanbark  in  the  manufacture  of 
roofing  felts,  in  place  of  cotton  rag  stock.  This  produced  a  new  market 
and  exercised  a  stabilizing  effect  upon  the  cotton  rag  market,  which 
had  begun  to  skyrocket. 

In  the  Derived  Products  of  Wood 

The  hardwood  distillation  industry  is  one  of  the  older  wood- 
utihzing  industries,  and  has  gradually  developed  to  its  present  state 
largely  without  the  aid  of  organized  research.  The  laboratory  under- 
took a  series  of  experiments  to  determine  the  fundamentals  of  the 
process  and  found  that  proper  control  of  the  temperature  in  the  re- 
torts during  distillation  produced  decided  increases  in  the  yield  of 
valuable  products  without  increasing  the  time  required.  This  im- 
provement has  been  rapidly  adopted  by  the  industry. 

Beech,  birch,  and  maple  have  always  been  considered  the  standard 
woods  for  distillation,  and  only  a  very  small  percentage  of  other  woods 
was  used.  As  part  of  its  distillation  studies,  the  laboratory  deter- 
mined the  value  of  a  number  of  other  hardwoods  such  as  oaks  and 
chestnut,  and  demonstrated  that  the  yields  from  several  were  sufficient 
to  warrant  commercial  exploitation.  Several  plants  have  recently 
been  erected  to  distill  these  substitute  MOods  exclusivelv. 


A  Decexxial  Record  35 

A  number  of  demonstration  experiments  have  been  niade  in 
cooperation  with  the  Bureau  of  ^Nlines  to  show  the  value  of  certain 
tars  and  oils,  products  of  both  hardwood  and  softwood  distillation,  as 
agents  in  the  flotation  process  of  ore  separation.  Several  of  these 
distillation  products  have  proved  themselves  Avell  adapted  for  this 
purpose,  and  have  assumed  definite  commercial  value,  instead  of  being 
merely  waste  by-products. 

Certain  perculiar  properties  of  wood  turpentine,  not  possessed  by 
gum  turpentine,  created  a  prejudice  against  it  and  retarded  its  sale. 
The  laboratory  made  a  very  complete  study  of  wood  turpentine,  in- 
cluding methods  of  analysis,  methods  of  refining,  chemical  composi- 
tion, and  commercial  value,  and  through  this  study  assisted  in  obtain- 
ing j^roper  markets  for  it. 

To  assist  in  the  development  of  efficient  utilization  of  softwood 
sawdust  and  similar  M'aste  wood,  the  laboratory  has  carried  out  de- 
tailed fundamental  efficiency  studies  on  the  process  for  obtaining 
ethyl  alcohol  from  wood.  These  studies  have  determined  the  best 
operating  conditions  and  the  amounts  of  alcohol  whicli  can  be  obtained 
from  various  species  of  wood.  Special  research  in  the  fermentation 
of  the  sugars — one  step  in  the  process — has  resulted  in  a  decided  in- 
crease in  the  yields  of  alcohol  commercially  produced. 

In  tliis  same  connection,  investigations  have  been  carried  out  on 
tlie  fermentation  procedures  for  the  fermentation  of  sugars  contained 
in  M-aste  sulphite  liquors.  This  waste  is  produced  in  vast  quantities 
in  sulpliite  process  pulp  plants  of  the  country,  and  the  investigations 
established  a  means  of  increasing  the  yields  of  ethyl  (grain)  alcohol 
obtainable  from  the  waste  material. 

Basic  underlying  data  on  tlie  chemical  composition  of  wood  and 
on  the  effect  of  varying  chemical  composition  on  the  physical  and  me- 
chanical properties  have  ])een  entirely  lacking;  methods  for  making 
tlie  cliemical  analysis  have  not  even  been  completely  developed.  The 
laboratory  has  made  a  fair  start  on  this  Mork,  and  has  made  progress 
in  the  refinement  of  methods  of  analysis.  The  analysis  of  several 
species  of  M'ood  has  been  completed. 

Conclusion 
This,  in  brief,  outlines  the  major  fields  of  M^ork  done  by  the 
laboratory  during  the  first  years  of  its  existence.     The  formative 


A  Decennial  Record  37 

period  can  definitely  be  said  to  have  been  passed.  The  work  in  wood 
products  researcli  had  been  clearly  defined  and  many  plainly  blazed 
trails  had  been  opened  through  this  little  traveled  field  by  the  time 
the  world  war  assumed  for  the  United  States  a  more  critical  aspect. 
Before  the  war  was  over,  these  trails  were  widened  to  broad  highways 
over  which  traveled  many  agencies  and  interests  that  sought  the  help 
of  this  institution  in  solving  problems  vital  to  the  welfare  of  nations. 

AVak  Work 

The  declaration  of  war  on  April  0.  1917,  found  the  laboratory 
M'ith  a  fund  of  basic  information  on  wood  and  wood  products,  well- 
developed  apparatus  and  equipment  for  research  and  a  small  but 
well-organized  staff  numbering  among  its  members  men  M-ith  nation- 
wide reputations  in  their  individual  lines  of  research.  Better  still,  the 
personnel,  largely  composed  of  those  who  had  seen  the  birth  of  the 
laboratory  or  helped  in  its  early  gro\\i:h.  was  possessed  of  a  sense  of 
partnership  in  true  pioneer  work,  and  of  a  spirit  that  stands  out  as  one 
of  the  real  assets  of  the  institution  in  the  time  of  stress  that  marked 
the  opening  of  the  war.  It  was  this  spirit  that  contributed  largely  to 
whatever  measure  of  success  may  have  been  achieved  later,  for  it  kept 
the  force  largely  intact  despite  the  material  gain  or  increase  in  per- 
sonal prestige  that  awaited  in  so  many  other  fields,  military  or  civilian, 
at  that  time.  Without  this  loyal  nucleus  the  usefulness  of  the  labora- 
tory to  many  war  agencies  woidd  have  been  much  limited. 

The  entire  energy  of  the  whole  organization  Mas  at  once  devoted 
to  the  most  efficient  use  of  its  knowledge  and  facilities  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  the  war.  A  careful  survey  immediately  showed  that  the  labora- 
tory's help  would  be  needed  in  the  solution  of  a  great  many  problems 
confronting  these  departments.  A  general  list  of  problems  was  drawn 
up,  and  ste])s  taken  to  get  into  contact  with  the  proper  agencies  and  to 
start  the  various  researches  which  were  plainly  needed. 

This  survey  of  forest  products  needs  in  relation  to  national 
defense  served  to  bring  out  with  startling  clearness  the  vast  impor- 
tance of  wood  and  other  forest  products  in  Avarfare.  Wood  in  the 
form  of  lumber,  timber,  ties,  posts,  poles,  piling,  etc.,  must  be  supplied 
for  uses  similar  to  those  prevailing  during  times  of  peace,  such  as  for 
buildings   (barracks-cantonments),  railroads,  In-idges,  telephone  and 


38  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

telegraph  lines,  docks,  ships,  boxes  and  crates,  furniture,  fuel,  and  a 
multitude  of  other  uses  normally  associated  with  modern  commerce 
and  industry. 

Then  there  were  the  multitudinous  special  war  uses  of  wood  in 
the  building  of  airplanes,  trucks,  artillery  wheels,  and  escort  wagons, 
as  well  as  for  gunstocks,  handles  of  trench  tools,  mortar  boxes,  and 
posts  for  entanglements,  to  mention  but  a  few.  In  the  building  of 
trenches,  essentially  a  mining  operation,  there  were  required  in  the  last 
war  millions  of  feet  of  lumber  to  mantain  these  works  and  make  them 
habitable.  For  most  of  these  uses  experience  has  found  no  other  mate- 
rial to  substitute  for  wood. 

In  war  time  the  demand  for  wood  pulp  jumps  tremendously, 
largely  through  the  increased  demand  for  paper.  For  instance,  in 
France,  despite  the  suspension  of  many  journals  the  number  of  copies 
of  papers  issued  daily  jumped  100  per  cent  over  peace  times.  Wood 
pulp,  in  the  emergency,  in  the  blockaded  central  European  countries 
assumed  vast  importance  in  the  manufacture  of  explosives,  as  a  sub- 
stitute in  surgery  for  absorbent  cotton  dressings,  in  the  making  of 
textiles  and  clothing.  As  one  German  editor  expressed  it  fervently, 
"To  be  without  wood  is  almost  as  bad  as  Ijeing  without  bread." 

The  chemical  aspects  of  the  wood  situation  likewise  play  a  tre- 
mendously important  part  in  the  game  of  the  nations — distillation 
products,  for  instance, — methyl  alcohol  and  its  important  part  in  the 
making  of  medicines  and  disinfectants,  in  the  manufacture  of  dyes 
and  other  products;  acetic  acid;  the  turpentines  and  resins.  These 
need  merely  be  named  to  conjure  up  the  impossibility  of  carrying  on 
important  functions  connected  with  modern  warfare  lacking  ample 
supplies  of  these  products  derived  from  wood. 

Personnel  and  Financial  Situation 

In  addition  to  establishing  contact  with  the  various  war  agencies 
and  getting  under  way  the  most  urgent  researches,  plans  were  imme- 
diately undertaken  for  the  expansion  of  the  organization  to  meet  the 
greatly  increased  demands  which  it  was  evident  would  be  made  upon 
it,  and  for  providing  the  necessary  funds  and  the  additional  labora- 
tory space. 

The  demand  for  the  facilities  of  the  laboratory  at  once  raised  a 
critical  financial  situation  that  needed  solution  before  expansion  could 


A  Decexxial  Record 


39 


be  authorized.  While  the  very  hniited  appropriation  for  the  regular 
staff  could  be  devoted  to  war  time  work,  the  amount  was  fixed.  Rec- 
ognition of  the  situation  by  the  Forest  Service  resulted  in  transferring 
small  amounts  of  money  created  by  adjustment  of  work  in  other  fields 
and  also  in  the  sending  of  experienced  personnel  to  assist  in  the  en- 
larged program.  Despite  these  adjustments,  but  little  progress  could 
have  been  made  without  the  allotment  of  funds  from  the  various  co- 
operating bureaus  in  the  Army  and  Navy  departments.  From  these 
soiu'ces  came  the  bidk  of  the  funds  used  for  carrying  on  the  important 
war  program.  Additional  space,  as  needed,  was  made  available 
through  the  patriotic  cooperation  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  a 
number  of  whose  buildings,  in  whole  or  part,  were  vacated  and  turned 
over  to  the  laboratory  during  the  period  of  the  war. 


PERSONNEL  DEVELOPMENTS  AT  THE  LABOUATOPY— JULY  lOlT  TO  JULY  1020 


Of  the  many  difficulties  encountered  in  carrying  on  the  necessary 
work,  the  matter  of  personnel  was  ever  present.  Tlie  dearth  of  prop- 
erly trained  men  who  could  be  secured  at  the  comparatively  low  sal- 
aries which  the  la])oratory  was  able  to  pay  was  always  most  acute,  and 
was  largely  responsible  for  many  irksome  delays  in  expanding  the 
organization.    This  expansion  Avent  forward,  however,  at  a  reasonable 


40  The  Foeest  Products  Laboratory 

rate,  and  on  armistice  day  the  entire  force  numbered  458  persons. 
After  that  time,  the  personnel  was  gradually  reduced,  and  much  of  the 
emergency  work  dropped.  However,  certain  of  the  projects,  espe- 
cially those  of  importance  in  peace-time  developments,  have  been 
continued,  support  for  them  being  largely  furnished  by  the  cooperat- 
ing bureaus.  The  war  expansion  and  the  relative  personnel  situation 
today  and  in  1917,  prior  to  the  sudden  groA\i:h  of  the  laboratory,  can 
be  seen  at  a  glance  in  the  diagram  on  page  39. 

Kiln  Drying  of  Aircraft  Woods 

In  presenting  the  accomplishments  of  the  laboratory  during  the 
war  period,  it  will  be  necessary  to  include  a  certain  amount  of  back- 
ground, so  that  each  research  may  be  properly  oriented  and  fitted  into 
the  general  plan  of  national  defense.  The  very  essence  of  this  work 
was  the  necessity  for  the  development  of  unprecedented  supplies  of 
spruce  for  aircraft  production  and  research.  The  demands  of  the 
allied  nations  for  aircraft  materials  in  the  years  preceding  the  entry 
of  the  United  States  into  the  war  had  practically  cleaned  up  the  avail- 
able supply  of  air-dry  spruce  in  the  country  and  in  addition,  the  pro- 
duction of  green  spruce  was  entirely  inadequate;  though  even  had  it 
been  sufficient,  the  delay  incident  to  air  drying  would  have  been  pro- 
hibitive. The  only  alternative  was  kiln  drying. Utilizing  the  available 
knowledge  possessed  by  the  laboratory  in  this  field,  the  proper  authori- 
ties were  convinced  of  the  practicability  of  kiln  drying  material  green 
from  the  saw  to  a  condition  equal  to  or  better  than  air-dried  stock. 
The  preparation  of  kiln-drying  specifications  covering  the  principal 
aircraft  woods  followed  and  they  were  almost  immediately  approved 
by  the  Signal  Corps  and  became  the  standard  for  both  Army  and 
Navy. 

Under  these  specifications  it  was  possible  to  dry  three-inch  green 
spruce  planks  in  21  days,  ordinary  air  seasoning  taking  from  six 
months  to  a  year,  depending  upon  climatic  conditions.  Batteries  of 
suitable  kilns  were  erected  by  the  Army  and  Xavy  for  the  drying  of 
aircraft  woods,  the  largest  of  these  being  at  Vancouver  Barracks, 
Washington.  In  the  erection  and  operation  of  this  large  drying  plant 
considerable  technical  advice  and  assistance  was  rendered  by  the  lab- 
oratorv.     Several  aircraft  manufacturers  also  installed  similar  kilns 


A  Decennial  Record  41 

or  kilns  based  on  laboratory  ideas  witb  modifications  to  suit  particular 
conditions  in  their  product. 

The  drying  schedules  embodied  in  this  sj^ecification  were  consid- 
ered perfectly  practical  and  safe  from  the  standpoint  of  the  strength 
of  the  Mood;  however,  it  seemed  desirable,  especially  in  the  case  of 
various  woods  which  were  being  considered  as  substitutes  for  spruce 
and  for  mahogany  and  Malnut  (for  propellers),  to  secure  additional 
data  on  the  effect  of  various  drying  schedules,  including  those  specified, 
upon  the  mechanical  properties  of  the  wood.  These  data  were  in- 
tended to  determine  the  limits,  as  to  drying  schedules,  which  could 
not  be  exceeded  with  safety,  it  being  advantageous,  of  course,  to  dry 
the  stock  as  rapidly  as  permissible.  Therefore,  a  comprehensive  pro- 
gram of  drying  and  testing  was  initiated.  Thousands  of  strength  tests 
were  made  upon  carefully  matched  specimens,  green,  air-dried,  and 
kiln-dried,  and  the  effect  of  the  drying  upon  the  strength  determined 
by  analysis  of  the  data. 

Work  on  Design  of  Aircraft  Parts 

There  was  immediate  demand  for  accm-ate  strength  figiu-es  for 
woods  used  in  aircraft  design,  and  it  was  possible  to  supply  much  of 
this  information  from  data  on  hand.  A  study  of  the  data  available 
on  most  American  species  resulted  in  the  approval  in  specifications 
of  suitable  substitute  species  for  woods  commonly  used  in  airplane 
manufacture.  The  list  of  approved  substitute  woods  issued  by  the 
Bureau  of  Aircraft  Production  was  based  upon  the  results  of  these 
studies. 

Designs  and  specifications  for  airplane  wing  beams  presented 
many  perplexing  pro})lems:  to  secure  reasonable  quantities  of  per- 
fect beams,  each  machined  out  of  a  single  piece  of  wood,  was  quite 
impossible.  It  became  necessary,  therefore,  to  devise  ways  and  means 
for  the  production  of  satisfactory  beams  from  defective  material.  Two 
general  lines  of  attack  were  followed,  namely.  (1)  a  study  of  defects 
and  (2)  the  development  of  built-up  beams. 

3Iuch  attention  had  lieen  given  to  defects  and  their  eff'ect  on 
strength  prior  to  the  war.  but  further  study  of  earlier  results  coupled 
with  some  additional  tests  gave  complete  data  on  the  relation  of  pitch 
pockets,  knots,  cross  grain  and  spiral  grain  to  the  strength  of  a  given 


42  The  Forest  Pkoducts  Labokatorv 

piece.  The  result  was  the  issuance  of  specifications  wliich  described 
the  kind,  size  and  location  of  defects  permissible.  This  specification 
immediately  made  available  many  beams  which  had  already  been  re- 
jected, and  increased  greatly  the  yield  of  acceptable  beams. 

Active  investigation  into  the  relative  merits  of  various  types  of 
built-up  airplane  wing  beams  was  undertaken  early  in  the  spring  of 
1918  at  the  urgent  request  of  the  Bureau  of  Aircraft  Production.  The 
need  for  such  investigations  had  been  apparent  for  a  long  time,  and 
fairly  thorough  knowledge  of  the  history  of  the  use  of  the  various 
types  had  been  secured;  but  lack  of  ability  to  organize  for  this  work 
in  addition  to  that  already  under  way  had  prevented  progress  in  the 
study.  Clearing  of  the  way  for  this  M'ork  resulted  in  the  evolution 
of  a  satisfactory  beam  as  the  result  of  an  intensive  test  and  study  of 
300  beams  comprising  that  number  of  individual  variations  of  ten 
main  types  of  construction.  Subsequent  tests  developed  the  best 
types  of  splices  for  flanges  and  webs,  and  detailed  data  was  secured 
concerning  the  behavior  of  individual  woods  with  different  types  of 
glue  used  in  making  built-up  beams. 

The  "possibility  of  improvements  in  design,  especially  in  the  larger 
beams,  became  evident;  further,  the  matter  of  "form  factors"  to  be 
applied  to  beams  of  various  forms  in  making  strength  calculations 
assumed  importance  because  cross  section  has  an  important  bearing 
on  specific  strength.  Consequently,  tests  on  built-up  beams  have  been 
continued  since  the  armistice  and  several  noteworthy  improvements 
brought  out. 

As  the  engineers  in  charge  became  more  familiar  with  aircraft 
design  and  construction,  they  saw  more  and  more  details  which  needed 
improvement.  Among  those  aircraft  parts  which  seemed  to  suffer 
most  from  poor  design  were  the  wing  ribs,  not  only  of  the  training 
planes,  but  also  of  the  fighters.  Almost  the  first  test  made  showed 
that  improvements  were  possible,  and  a  group  of  men  was  given  the 
task  of  designing,  building  and  testing  wing  ribs.  A  standard  type 
for  small  and  medium  ribs  was  evolved  and  ribs  of  this  type  were 
developed  for  a  number  of  Army  and  Xavy  planes.  So  far  as  known, 
the  new  type  was  an  improvement  over  all  existing  types.  Later 
several  very  efficient  truss  types  were  developed  for  larger  planes. 

Interplane  struts,  both  solid  and  hollow,  though  designed  on  the 
basis  of  formulae  which  had  been  checked  experimentally,  were  in- 


A  Decennial  Record  43 

spected  and  selected  in  a  manner  wliich  did  not  seem  to  insure  accept- 
ance of  all  suitable  struts  and  the  rejection  of  all  unsuitable  ones. 
Further,  there  arose  numerous  questions  concerning  the  actual 
strength  of  certain  struts  and  fittings.  A  rather  extensive  series  of 
strut  tests  was  therefore  undei-taken  to  answer  these  questions  and 
various  others  which  arose  from  time  to  time  concerning  special  types 
of  struts.  These  tests  showed  definitely  that  methods  of  inspection 
could  be  improved  materially  and  that  certain  special  types  of  strut 
were  not  satisfactory.  A  non-injurious  method  of  test  or  inspection 
was  devised,  and  later  adopted  by  the  Army,  whereby  the  actual  maxi- 
mum load  which  each  strut  can  bear  is  determined.  Several  note- 
M'orthy  types  of  large  built-up  struts  were  developed  for  the  big 
flying  boats  ])eing  designed  by  the  Xavy. 

The  improvements  in  design  resulting  from  the  exj)erimental 
development  of  beams,  ribs  and  struts  made  evident  the  desirability 
of  similar  work  on  other  air  craft  parts.  Tests  were  undertaken  as 
opportunity  offered,  on  various  special  details  which  were  giving 
trouble,  and  in  several  cases  the  development  of  new  principles  of 
construction  was  carried  out.  In  most  instances  these  centered  about 
the  use  of  plywood.  Shortly  after  our  entrance  into  the  war,  a  very 
elaborate  investigation  into  the  mechanical  properties  of  plywood  had 
been  initiated,  since  there  was  no  information  available  upon  this 
su])ject  and  its  importance  in  connection  with  aircraft  design  was 
evident.  As  this  investigation  proceeded,  the  possibilities  in  the 
structural  use  of  this  material  became  greater  and  greater,  and  the 
new  knowledge  was  applied  as  quickly  as  possible.  Mention  has 
already  been  made  of  the  new  type  of  wing  rib,  a  large  part  of  the 
success  of  which  depends  upon  the  efficient  use  of  plywood  webs. 
Much  of  the  progress  made  in  wing  l)eam  design  likewise  was  due  to 
the  application  of  the  new  data  to  the  design  of  tliese  important  parts. 

Several  large  elevator  spars  were  designed  for  Xavy  flying  ])oats. 
and  in  the  progress  of  the  test  an  entirely  new  type  of  construction 
was  perfected.  The  use  of  spirally  or  diagonally  wound  veneer  over 
the  core  provided  very  high  resistance  to  torsional  stresses  with  ex- 
tremely low  weight.  The  net  result  was  a  very  strong  and  stiff  spar 
with  the  minimum  weight. 

A  new  engine  bearer  was  designed  for  the  De  Haviland  plane. 
This  bearer  is  of  plywood  about  an  inch  thick,  cut  out  of  the  solid  sheet 


LAMINATED  COXSTRUCTIOX  AS  APPLIED  TO  WOODEN  ARTICLES  OF  COMMERCE 
Wagon  Bolster  Hat  Blocks  Baseball  Bats  Shoe  Lasts 


A  Decexxiai.  Record  4.0 


and  lightened  as  much  as  possible  through  the  use  of  hghtening  holes. 
The  proper  selection  of  species  and  thicknesses  of  piles  resulted  in  an 
appreciable  increase  of  strength  without  increase  in  weight.  Similar 
parts  were  designed  for  several  Xavy  planes. 

3Iuch  attention  was  devoted  to  the  use  of  thin  plywood  as  a  wing 
co^'ering  and  a  number  of  tests  were  made  in  the  hope  of  developing  a 
satisfactory  linen  substitute.  Several  types  of  construction  were  tried 
out,  and  interesting  preliminary  results  secured.  Xo  covering  or  type 
of  construction  was  perfected,  however,  which  was  superior  to  the 
standard  wood  and  linen  type. 


BcveJopmcnt  of  Waicr-rcHlstant  Glues 

Closely  associated  with  most  of  the  aircraft  problems  upon  which 
the  laboratory  worked  was  the  all-important  one  of  glues  and  gluing. 
A  great  deal  of  reliance  is  placed  upon  glue  in  tlie  construction  of  the 
ordinary  plane,  since  many  of  tlie  structural  parts  are  glued  together, 
and  it  is  essential  that  only  the  best  glues  and  l)est  gluing  technique 
be  employed.  The  first  request  for  help  came  from  the  Signal  Corps 
in  the  spring  of  1917,  asking  for  assistance  in  hide  glue  inspection. 
Xo  standard,  usable  system  of  grading  and  inspection  was  available, 
but  one  Mas  quickly  developed  at  the  laboratory  by  an  inspector  as- 
signed to  the  work,  and  all  hide  glue  used  by  tJie  Army  Air  Service 
as  well  as  much  of  that  used  by  the  X^avy  Air  Service  was  inspected 
and  certified  by  liim  and  his  assistants. 

Attention  was  then  directed  to  the  great  desirability  of  using 
Avater-resistant  glue  in  aircraft  construction,  not  alone  on  account  of 
exposure  to  the  weather  wlien  in  service,  but  also  ])ecause  of  tlie  severe 
conditions  during  shipment  and  storage.  It  had  been  known  for  many 
years  that  so-called  "'water-proof"  glues  could  be  made  from  blood 
albumin  and  from  casein,  and  various  secret  formulas  had  been  devel- 
oped and  were  in  use  to  a  certain  extent.  In  fact,  it  is  well  established 
that  the  enemy  was  using  casein  glue  in  his  aircraft  ])efore  our  entrance 
into  the  war.  In  tliis  country  there  were  se^'eral  small  manufacturers 
of  "waterproof"  plywood  glued  with  blood  albumin.  However,  there 
Avas  not  available  for  general  use  an  appreciable  amount  of  a  suitable 
water-resistant  glue,  for  either  plywood  or  joint  work.  Therefore, 
the  perfection  of  several  types  of  Avater-resistant  glues  was  immedi- 


GLUE   SPREADING  IMACHINE— A   STEP   IN   THE  MAKING   OF   PLYWOOD 


A  Decennial  Record  47 

iitely  undertaken.  A  special  staff  of  chemists  and  assistants  was 
gathered  together,  and  the  necessary  equipment  installed.  This  virtu- 
ally marks  the  laboratory's  entrance  into  glue  research. 

Within  a  reasonable  time,  high  class  glues  of  both  types,  ])lood 
albumin  and  casein,  had  been  worked  out  and  made  available  to  the 
Bureau  of  Aircraft  Production.  Regular  inspection  and  test  of  sam- 
ples of  plywood  glued  at  various  plants  had  been  established  early  in 
the  study  and  was  maintained  as  an  aid  to  the  manufacturers  in  mak- 
ing a  satisfactory  product.  Assistance  was  rendered  them,  also,  by 
trips  of  inspection  and  study  at  the  individual  plants.  In  addition  to 
the  glues  already  mentioned,  a  special  kind  of  blood  albumin  glue 
tissue  was  invented.  This  is  particularly  adapted  to  the  gluing  of  very 
thin  plywood,  such  as  that  used  in  the  experiments  on  plywood  wing 
covering.  In  connection  Mntli  the  glue  work,  special  studies  of  the 
supplies  and  quality  of  the  raw  materials  entering  into  their  manufac- 
ture were  undertaken.  Through  these,  adequate  quantities  of  suitable 
material  became  assured. 

Propeller  Work 

The  effect  of  moisture  upon  the  properties  of  wood  was  well 
known,  and  it  was  generally  accepted  that  the  planes  and  their  parts 
should  be  manufactured  at  the  moisture  content  which  they  would 
assume  in  service.  There  were  already  in  existence  certain  data  show- 
ing the  relation  between  atmospheric  humidity  and  the  moisture  in 
wood,  but  these  were  not  considered  sufficient  in  view  of  the  import- 
ance of  the  matter.  Therefore,  several  series  of  accelerated  tests  were 
made,  the  results  permitting  the  determining  in  advance  of  moisture 
content  tliat  will  be  reached  by  any  species  under  given  atmospheric 
conditions. 

Closely  correlated  with  this  study  was  an  entirely  dissimilar  one, 
planned  to  prevent  change  in  tlie  moisture  content  of  propellers  espe- 
cially during  storage  under  humidity  conditions  different  from  those 
of  manufacture  or  use.  This  investigation  concerned  itself  princi- 
pally with  the  various  kinds  of  wood  finishes  and  treatments  with  sub- 
stances known  to  be  water-resistant.  Tests  on  many  commercial 
paints  and  varnishes  showed  that  none  of  these  were  sufficiently  re- 
sistant to  the  passage  of  moisture  through  them,  and  there  resulted 


48  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

a  search  for  a  new  and  satisfactory  coating!  Thus  was  hrought  about 
the  invention  and  perfection  of  the  ahiminum  leaf  coating,  which  is 
practically  impervious  to  moisture  so  long  as  it  remains  intact. 

The  change  in  the  moisture  content  of  projDellers  due  to  atmos- 
pheric conditions,  with  the  consequent  warping,  twisting,  and  unbal- 
ancing of  the  blades  was  only  one  of  many  troubles  experienced  in  the 
manufacture  and  use  of  aircraft  propellers.  The  results  were,  how- 
ever, much  the  same.  There  are  many  variables  entering  into  the 
manufacture  of  propellers,  such  as  differences  in  weight,  shrinkage 
and  moisture  among  the  various  laminations,  and  to  separate  all  of 
these  variables  and  their  effects  upon  the  finished  propeller  required 
a  very  elaborate  and  costly  series  of  tests  on  full  sized  propellers  of 
various  species.  The  species  entering  into  this  study  were:  Central 
American.  African  and  Philippine  mahoganies,  white  oak,  red  oak, 
hard  maple,  yellow  birch,  yellow  poplar  and  red  gum.  A  complete 
propeller  manufacturing  shop  and  a  number  of  storage  rooms  were 
erected,  all  provided  with  automatic  temperature  and  humidity  con- 
trol. Lumber  of  the  different  species  was  kiln  dried  at  the  laboratory, 
and  the  task  of  making  up  several  hundred  propellers,  each  in  accord- 
ance with  a  definite  plan,  was  got  under  way.  These  propellers  were 
subjected  to  various  atmospheric  conditions  ranging  from  very  moist 
to  very  dry,  and  the  changes  in  them  carefully  measured  at  stated  in- 
tervals. This  project  was  not  finished  during  the  war,  but  is  now 
nearing  completion.  The  results  are  already  quite  evident,  and 
shortly  the  desired  specifications  for  manufacturing  limits  and  con- 
trol will  be  drawn  up  in  correct  and  final  form. 

Many  small  but  important  problems  in  connection  with  the  air- 
craft program  were  solved,  and  much  miscellaneous  help  given,  prin- 
cipally through  numerous  field  trips  by  the  technical  staff.  Permanent 
record  of  this  service,  and  of  the  results  of  the  major  studies  as  well, 
is  found  largely  in  the  specifications  of  the  army  and  navy  aircraft 
bureaus. 

Kiln  Drying  of  Heavy  Woods 

The  sudden  increase  in  the  demand  for  vehicle  stock  brought 
about  by  the  need  for  tremendous  quantities  of  army  escort  wagons, 
automobile  trucks,  and  artillery  wheels  almost  immediatelv  exhausted 


A  Dp:cexxiai-  Recokd  49 

the  conipiiratively  small  supply  of  dry  stock  available,  and  left  the 
alternatives  of  either  using  green  stock  or  resorting  to  artificial  dry- 
ing. The  former  was  of  course  out  of  the  question  and  many  were 
convinced  that  the  latter  also  was  not  feasible.  The  shortage  of 
northern-grown  oak  complicated  the  matter  still  more  since  the 
southern  oaks  are  admittedly  much  more  difficult  to  dry,  and  the  sea- 
soning losses,  even  with  the  most  careful  air  drying,  are  very  large. 
'J'lie  problem  here  was  to  get  the  wood  dry,  even  if  considerable  de- 
grade occurred,  the  development  of  the  last  ounce  of  strength  being 
out  of  the  question  and  not  essential.  In  this  it  differed,  of  course, 
from  the  aircraft  wood-drying  problem. 

The  laboratory's  experience  in  the  experimental  drying  of  vehicle 
stock  and  in  the  design  and  operation  of  kilns  indicated  clearly  that 
successful  drying  of  this  class  of  stock  would  require  very  careful  con- 
trol of  kiln  conditions — an  accuracy  of  control  which  could  not  be 
secured  in  kilns  of  the  common  ventilated  types,  even  with  well- 
trained  and  skilled  operators.  The  only  type  of  kiln  which,  in  the 
laboratory's  experience  up  to  that  time,  was  susceptible  of  sufficiently 
close  control  was  the  water-spray  type,  and  therefore  this  type  was 
recommended  for  this  piu-pose,  and  suitable  drying  schedules  were 
prepared. 

This  heavy  drying  divided  itself  naturally  into  two  groups:  the 
army  wagons  for  the  Quartermaster  C'orps.  and  the  artillery  wheels 
for  the  Ordnance  Department.  Assistance  was  given  at  both  gov- 
ernment-owned plants  and  arsenals  and  at  contract  plants  in  the 
design  and  erection  and  the  eventual  operation  of  numerous  kilns 
handling  lieavy  stock,  a  corps  of  experts  being  maintained  in  the  field 
for  that  purpose.  One  man  was  stationed  at  the  Rock  Island  Arsenal 
almost  continuously  for  seven  months,  while  the  kilns  were  being 
erected  and  the  operators  trained.  The  knowledge  and  experience 
of  the  laboratory  staff  and  the  help  which  they  were  able  to  render 
made  possible,  since  it  enabled  the  dry  material  to  be  secured  jn-omptly, 
the  carrying  on  of  tlie  various  i)r()grams  dependent  upon  heavy  hard- 
wood stock. 

An  important  problem  involving  wheel  stock  was  the  steam- 
bending  of  the  felloes.  Tliere  was  but  little  standardization  of  prac- 
tice in  the  industry,  and  the  losses  which  were  occurring  at  many  of 
the  plants  were  very  large.    A  field  study  of  this  problem  was  under- 


SOME   WAU   TIME    IXSTAI.TuATIOXS   ()F    TYl'lOS   (  )K 
THE  LABORATOlir 


;V    KILNS    DEVELOPED    AT 


Contract  i'laiit.  Quartermaster's  Corps 
Rock  Island  Arsenal,  Rock  Island.  111. 


Naval  Aircraft  Factory,  Philadelpliia,  Pa. 
Spruce  Production   Division.  Vancouver.  Wash. 


A  Dkcfaxiai,  Recokd  .51 

taken  and  certain  2>i'iiiciples  determined,  the  adoption  of  wliich  cnt 
down  tlie  losses  very  materially.  It  was  evident,  however,  that  further 
investigation  would  serve  to  improve  the  art  still  more,  and  plans  were 
made  for  an  extensive  project.  A  steam-bending  machine  and  steam- 
ing retort  were  installed  and  preliminary  tests  had  been  made  when 
the  armistice  was  signed.  Further  work  has  been  temporarily  aban- 
doned because  of  tlie  lack  of  funds. 

^Vn  interesting  pliase  of  tlie  drying  situation  was  that  connected 
witli  the  conditioning  of  walnut  gunstock  blanks.  The  quantity  of 
blanks  needed  was  l)eyond  belief,  and  naturally,  long  before  the  entry 
of  the  United  States  into  the  war.  air-dry  su])plies  of  walnut  had  been 
absorbed  l)y  rifle  manufacturers  filling  contracts  for  the  allies.  The 
first  attempts  to  kiln  dry  green  walnut  wlien  the  availal)le  air-dry 
material  disappeared,  resulted  disastrously — one  instance  being  re- 
corded when  the  opening  of  the  kilns  at  one  plant  at  the  end  of  a  run 
disclosed  60, 000  totally  ruined  blanks  with  a  loss  of  $72,000  in  mate- 
rial costs.  One  firm  with  an  order  for  two  million  rifles  for  Russian 
use  called  on  the  lal)oratorv  in  this  crisis  and  tlie  ai)plication  of  the 
drying  })rinciples  already  perfected,  su])plemented  with  needed  varia- 
tions indicated  after  a  study  of  tlie  problems  of  this  specific  material, 
reduced  losses  to  less  than  two  per  cent.  When  the  United  States 
itself  entered  the  market  for  greater  (piantities  of  rifle  blanks  than 
ever,  facilities  existed  for  filling  orders  without  loss  and  with  l)ut  little 
delay. 

Additional  assistance  was  rendered  in  various  ways,  especially  in 
the  preparation  of  specifications  and  in  the  selection  of  substitute 
species  for  those  difficult  to  secure  in  sufficient  quantity.  The  fund 
of  data  on  the  ])roperties  of  wood  accumidated  since  the  laboratory's 
incej)tion.  couj)le(l  with  the  ex])erience  of  the  staff,  ])roved  of  very 
great  value  in  this  M'ork. 

JFar  Time  Bo.v  Work 

The  first  intimation  that  there  was  going  to  be  trouble  in  connec- 
tion with  the  boxing  and  crating  of  goods  for  overseas  came  when  the 
Ordnance  Department  sent  out  recjuests  for  bids  on  boxes,  using  its 
standard  specifications  which  called  for  high  grade  white  pine.  'No 
bids  came  ])ack.     The  help  of  the  laboratory  was  souglit,  and,  on  the 


The  Fokest  Products  Laboratory 


basis  of  its  previous  exijerience  in  })ox  testing,  a  specification  was  pre- 
pared which  allowed  the  use  of  many  different  kinds  of  wood,  thq 
thickness  of  the  boards  or  shooks  varying  according  to  the  species. 
This  solved  the  immediate  difficulty  and  showed  the  way  for  much 
additional  work.  This  was  at  first  largely  confined  to  the  Ordnance 
Department  and  consisted,  for  the  most  part,  in  the  re-design  of  con- 
tainers for  various  specific  articles,  such  as  rifles,  shells,  hand  grenades, 
machine  guns,  saddles  and  harness  and  other  equipment  covering  a 
wide  range.  It  was  possible,  in  practically  all  cases,  to  make  a  mate- 
rial reduction  in  the  size  of  the  container  and  also  in  its  first  cost 
without  reducing  its  efficiency.  Thus,  in  the  case  of  the  Browning 
automatic  machine  rifles,  the  re-design  of  the  package  carrying  two 
of  the  rifles  netted  a  saving  of  33  per  cent  ])oth  in  cargo  space  and  in 
material.  The  significance  of  the  saving  in  cargo  space  becomes  evi- 
dent when  it  is  realized  that  it  was  valued  at  $6.00  per  cubic  foot,  and 
was  not  to  be  had  in  sufficient  quantity  at  any  price. 

Assistance  in  boxing  and  crating  was  rendered  to  a  number  of  the 
army  branches  from  time  to  time,  and  when  the  general  staff  took  over 
many  of  the  functions  formerly  exercised  by  these  various  branches, 
definite  cooperation  was  arranged  with  the  Office  of  Industrial  Re- 
search of  the  Division  of  Purchase,  Storage  and  Traffic,  Avhich  acted 
as  a  clearing  house  and  systematized  the  work  to  a  great  extent.  AVhen 
the  shortage  of  cargo  space  became  acute,  and  baling  of  many  goods 
was  adopted  to  cut  the  space  required  to  the  minimum,  many  tests 
were  made  upon  various  types  of  water-resistant  papers  to  determine 
their  suitability  for  this  purpose.  ^Miscellaneous  investigations  were 
made,  also,  upon  various  patent  boxes  and  upon  different  types  of 
straps  and  seals.  Courses  of  instruction  in  boxing  and  crating  were 
given  to  officers  and  enlisted  men,  as  well  as  to  civilian  employes  of 
various  branches  of  the  A^^ar  Department,  and  these  branches  have  re- 
ported that  the  courses  Avere  of  exceptional  value  in  building  up 
efficient  inspection  forces. 

Laboratory  Participation  in  Wooden  Sliiphnilding 
The  huge  wooden  ship  program  planned  by  the  Emergency  Fleet 
Corporation   encountered   many  technical   difficulties,   a   number  of 
which  were  new  or  unusual,  and  the  laboratory \s  assistance  was  re- 
quested in  the  solution  of  a  number  of  tliem. 


A  Decexxiat.  Recokd  .53 

The  laboratory's  experience  in  the  grading  of  structural  timbers 
and  in  the  utilization  of  many  of  the  woods  used  in  shipbuilding  was 
called  upon  in  the  drafting  of  new  grading  rules  for  ship  timbers 
adopted  by  the  Emergency  Fleet  Corporation  and  in  the  revision  of 
the  rules  of  construction  laid  down  by  the  American 'Bureau  of  Ship- 
ping. Assistance  was  also  rendered  in  the  inspection  of  timber  under 
the  rules  of  the  Kmergenc}'  Fleet  Corporation  and  for  the  same 
organization  specifications  for  creosote  and  its  application  were  pre- 
pared. These  specifications  permitted  the  use  of  all  suitable  creosotes 
and  made  the  corporation  independent  of  various  expensive  proprie- 
tary preservatives  originally  specified. 

A  shortage  of  treenail  stock  and  of  properly  seasoned  treenails 
seemed  imminent  in  the  spring  of  1918,  and  the  laboratory  was  called 
upon  to  find  new  kinds  of  wood  and  to  specify  means  of  artificially 
seasoning  the  treenails.  This  problem  was  of  first  importance  since, 
for  a  time,  the  su])])ly  of  treenails  actually  determined  the  rate  of  ship 
construction  at  a  number  of  yards.  Certain  promising  species  were 
selected  for  experiment,  and  driving  tests  made  to  determine  their 
suitability.  Live  oak  and  osage  orange  were  selected  as  comparing 
favorably  with  l)lack  locust,  and  specifications  were  adopted  allowing 
the  use  of  these  woods  and  })roviding  for  a  better  system  of  inspection. 
Experimental  Mork  upon  the  kiln  drying  of  these  species  was  pushed 
by  the  laboratory  and  the  Fleet  Corporation  made  extensive  prepara- 
tions for  the  kiln  drying  of  live  oak  treenails,  which  were  abandoned 
on  the  signing  of  the  armistice. 

Coopcraiion  With  the  liailroad  Adniimstratiou 

The  shortage  of  coal-tar  creosote  interfered  seriously  with  the 
wood  preservation  industry,  particularly  the  railroad  branch.  An 
analysis  of  existing  records  of  the  service  rendered  by  treated  ties 
throughout  the  country  was  made  in  connection  with  a  study  of  rain- 
fall, and  it  was  possible  thereby  to  recommend  the  use  of  zinc  chloride 
in  a  number  of  localities  in  place  of  creosote.  This  formed  the  basis 
of  the  allocation  of  creosote  to  the  railroads  by  the  Railroad  Adminis- 
tration. Specifications  for  a  creosote  to  be  used  in  the  joints  in  car 
construction  were  also  submitted. 


o4  The  Fokest  Pkoducts  Lauokatoky 

The  Railroad  Administration  experienced  endless  trouble  in  the 
construction  of  wooden  cars,  largely  due  to  seasoning  difficulties 
caused  by  the  shortage  of  dry  car  stock.  An  extensive  field  study  was 
made  and  the  exact  causes  of  the  trouble  determined.  A  report  out- 
lining the  proper  remedies  was  prepared  and  submitted  to  the  Rail- 
road Administration.  In  various  other  ways  the  laboratory  worked 
with  the  Railroad  ^Vdministration  to  solve  miscellaneous  problems. 
The  results  of  much  of  this  work  appear  in  the  form  of  specifications 
issued  by  the  Administration. 

Furthering  ihc  ChcmlcaJ  Warfare  Campaign 

The  chemical  warfare  work  for  the  army  was  first  got  under  way 
by  the  Bureau  of  Klines  and  later  taken  over  by  the  Chemical  AVarfare 
Service  when  this  Service  was  organized.  Specific  problems  were 
assigned  to  various  laboratories  throughout  the  country  and  several 
having  to  do  with  forest  products  were  taken  over  by  tlie  Forest  Prod- 
ucts Laboratory. 

One  of  the  most  urgent  needs  was  for  a  highly  absorbent  charcoal 
for  use  in  gas  masks  for  protection  against  chlorine.  Ordinary  char- 
coals were  soon  found  useless  for  this  purpose  and  experiments  were 
started  to  evolve  a  suitable  coal.  This  resulted  in  the  preparation  of 
a  beech-wood  charcoal  which  met  the  requirements.  A  similar  mate- 
rial had  been  developed  at  the  same  time  by  tlie  chemists  of  a  large 
commercial  carbon-producing  firm.  The  manufacture  of  this  charcoal 
was  immediately  undertaken  at  a  distillation  plant  under  the  super- 
vision of  a  laboratory  chemist,  only  seven  days  being  required  to  make 
the  needed  alterations  in  the  plant.  I^ater  on  it  became  desirable,  due 
to  a  shortage  of  raw  material  to  find  a  substitute  for  the  very  dense 
charcoal  made  from  cocoanut  shells.  This  charcoal  was  capable  of 
absorbing  a  number  of  gases  against  M'hich  the  beech-wood  charcoal 
offered  but  slight  protection.  A  method  of  activating  charcoal,  simi- 
lar to  a  secret  process  used  by  the  Bureau  of  Klines,  was  first  devel- 
oped, so  that  activating  and  absorption  tests  could  be  made  at  the 
laboratory,  following  which  a  series  of  artificially  dense  charcoals, 
made  from  the  hydrolized  wood  sawdust  which  is  a  waste  product  in 
the  manufacture  of  ethyl  alcohol  from  M'ood.  were  developed.  The 
best  of  this  series  were  almost  perfect  substitutes  for  cocoanut  shell 


A  Dkckxxiai.  Rkcoki) 


charcoal,  and  tlie  2Ji"<^<-'e.ss  was  worked  out  hy  laboratory  chemists  on 
a  seini-commercial  scale  at  the  Cleveland  chemical  laboratory  of  the 
Chemical  A\''arfare  Service.  The  commercial  production  was  just 
about  to  be  undertaken  at  the  termination  of  hostilities. 

A  number  of  other  problems  connected  with  defensive  and  offen- 
sive chemical  warfare  were  Morked  upon  and  definite  conclusions 
reached.  Chantring  conditions,  however,  fre(iuently  made  tlie  results 
of  no  value  almost  before  tliey  were  secured.  Among  these  problems 
may  be  mentioned  tear  gases,  gask  mask  filters,  carbon  monoxide 
absorbent,  solvent  for  arsene  gas,  and  the  recovery  of  isoprene  and 
toluol  from  turpentine. 

It  seemed,  at  first  sight,  tliat  our  entrance  into  the  war  woidd  not 
throM'  a  very  great  l)ur(len  upon  the  wood  distillation  industry  since 
the  Eritisli  munitions  manufacturers  were  the  only  ones  using  acetate 
of  lime  in  making  smokeless  powder  and  it  Mas  not  anticipated  that 
American  manufacturers  would  produce  this  particular  type  of  })ow- 
der.  It  soon  developed,  however,  that  the  aircraft  program  would 
demand  twice  tlie  current  ])roduction  of  acetate  for  tlie  preparation  of 
the  cellulose  acetate  "dope"  used  to  shrink  tlie  wing  fal)ric. 

The  Signal  Corps  finally  decided  to  construct  several  new  distil- 
lation plants,  after  the  field  had  been  carefully  gone  over  and  the 
merits  of  various  expedients  determined.  Tlie  laboratory  acted  in  a 
consulting  ca])acity  in  all  of  this  work  and  also  assisted  plants  already 
in  operation  to  secure  greater  yields  through  the  use  of  a  tem])erature 
control  method  worked  out  by  the  laboratory  before  the  war. 

Later,  when  the  demand  for  acetic  acid  became  so  acute  that  the 
price  of  production  no  longer  was  a  controlling  factor,  a  method  of 
increasing  the  yields  of  acetic  acid  by  fusion  of  the  wood  with  caustic 
soda  was  perfected.  'J'liis  method  ])roduce(l  three  and  one-half  times 
as  much  acetic  acid  ])cr  unit  weight  of  wood  as  straight  distillation. 

Wood  ('clhilosr  for  Kj'jjio.sivc.s 

Among  the  many  fancied  and  real  shortages  of  raw  material, 
those  having  to  do  M'itli  munitions  were  perhaps  the  most  spectacular, 
because  their  immediate  significance  M-as  most  easily  appreciated  by 
the  lay  mind.  Among  these  munition  shortages  none  seemed  to  come 
so  unexpectedly  or  develop  so  rapidly  as  that  of  cotton  linters.  the 


WOOD    DISTILLATION    RETORT— A    CHARGE   BEING    PUT    INTO   THE    RETORT 
PREPARATORY    TO    DESTRUCTIVE    DISTILLATION 


A  Decennial  Recokd  57 

base  for  the  inaiiufacture  of  nitrocellulose,  one  of  the  most  important 
high  explosives.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  special  machinery  for  cut- 
ting the  linters  from  the  cotton  seeds  had  been  installed  at  most  cot- 
ton seed  crushing  plants,  the  demand  grew  much  faster  than  the 
supply.  Finally,  the  laboratory  undertook  to  find  ways  and  means 
for  producing  suitable  cellulose  from  wood.  Several  grades  of  wood 
pulp  were  given  a  series  of  after-treatments  to  remove  the  impurities, 
and  the  treated  samples  sent  to  an  arsenal  for  nitration.  It  was  found 
that  at  least  two  of  the  after-treatments  produced  entirely  satisfactory 
material,  and  ])lans  for  the  daily  production  of  several  hundred  tons 
of  this  pulp  had  l)een  made  when  the  cessation  of  hostilities  ended  the 
immediate  need  for  such  tremendous  quantities  of  high  explosives. 

MificcUancouH  War  Time  Activities 

Among  the  many  little  things  typical  of  the  minor  activities  of 
the  lal)orat()ry  was  the  development  of  several  types  of  sln-apnel  nose 
plugs.  These  plugs  were  used,  early  in  the  war,  to  replace  the  tune 
fuses  on  shrapnel  shells  during  shipment  from  the  munitions  plant  to 
the  front,  and  were  intended  to  keep  out  moisture  as  well  as  to  pro- 
tect the  machined  face  and  thread  forming  the  shrapnel  nose.  The 
threaded  and  paraffined  wooden  plugs  formerly  used,  quite  frecpiently 
swelled  during  transportation  and  broke  down  during  attempted  re- 
moval. In  one  type  perfected  at  the  laboratory,  use  was  made  of  the 
fact  that  wood  shrinks  very  little  along  the  end  grain.  Therefore,  by 
so  disposing  the  wood  that  the  threaded  portion  was  all  end-grain,  it 
was  possible  to  prevent  its  swelling  and  sticking  in  the  hole. 

Another  type  was  moidded  from  a  mixture  of  paper  pulp  and 
asphaltic  pitcli.  Still  a  third,  intended  to  ])e  (}uick-detachal)le  and 
(piick-attachaljle  as  well,  was  built  up  of  wood  with  a  flexible  tongue 
which  caught  in  the  threads  and  held  the  plug  in  place.  A  cpiick  pull 
served  to  lireak  the  tongue  and  release  the  i)lug.  Just  about  this  time 
the  Ordnance  Department  decided  to  put  the  fuses  into  the  shells  at 
the  loading  station,  and  tluis  dispense  with  the  use  of  the  nose  plugs 
altogether. 

The  skill  and  knowledge  gained  through  many  years'  study  of 
wood  under  tlie  microscope,  and  the  collection  of  authentic  wood  sam- 
ples and  microscopic  wood  sections  proved  to  be  of  very  great  value 


58  The  Fokkst  Products  LahoKxVtoky 

ill  many  ways.  The  great  bulk  of  the  work  carried  out  by  the  wood- 
microscopy  specialists  during  the  war  consisted  in  the  identification 
(as  to  species)  of  samples  of  wood  for  the  laboratory  and  for  various 
agencies  and  manufacturers  engaged  upon  war  work.  Over  18,000 
specimens  were  thus  identified  during  the  m  ar.  One  of  the  most  re- 
markable series  of  identifications  was  of  gas  mask  charcoals  submitted 
by  the  Bureau  of  Standards  early  in  the  war.  It  was  possible,  by  the 
use  of  the  identification  keys  worked  out  before  the  war,  to  identify 
the  species  of  w^ood  from  which  each  sample  of  charcoal  had  been  made. 

A  distinct  phase  of  the  microscopic  work  was  the  examination  of 
wood  for  decay.  There  are  many  kinds  of  stain  and  discoloration 
caused  by  various  agencies,  among  which  are  certain  decay-producing 
organisms.  It  is  frequently  impossible  to  determine  the  origin  of  a 
stain  except  under  the  microscope,  and  it  is  most  impoivtant,  especially 
in  aircraft  work,  that  no  wood  be  used  which  is  even  slightly  decayed 
and.  almost  as  important,  that  no  wood  be  rejected  simply  on  suspicion 
of  decay. 

Manufacturing  and  purchasing  specifications  of  the  leaders  in 
industry  usually  embody  in  a  few  simple  words  the  results  of  years 
of  study  and  experience  and  they  represent  the  latest  and  best  prac- 
tice, ^luch  of  the  progress  made  by  the  laboratory  in  its  ten  years  of 
researcli  is  embodied  in  the  specifications  of  the  various  Army  and 
Navy  bureaus  and  of  the  leading  manufacturers  in  many  industries 
using  wood.  Several  hundred  such  specifications  were  referred  to  the 
laboratory  for  criticism  and  revision,  and  of  these  a  goodly  share  were 
written  practically  in  their  entirety  at  the  laboratory. 

Instructional  work  afforded  another  excellent  means  of  making 
the  la])oratory's  knowledge  effective.  The  staff  had  been  doing  in- 
structional work  of  various  kinds  for  a  number  of  years  and  was 
therefore  well  qualified  to  undertake  the  instruction  of  variovis  grades 
of  inspectors  and  operators.  The  first  course  for  airplane  inspectors 
was  given  in  July,  1917,  and  succeeding  courses  at  intervals  of  two  or 
three  weeks  until  the  close  of  the  war.  xVbout  12.5  men  received  in- 
struction in  these  courses,  exclusive  of  various  of  the  newer  members 
of  the  laboratory  staff. 

Courses  of  instruction  for  box  inspectors,  principally  for  the 
Ordnance  Department,  were  inaugurated  at  about  the  same  time  as 
those  for  airplane  inspectors,  and  continued  until  after  the  cessation 


A  DKcKXXiAr,  Kkcoud  .59 

of  liostilities.  About  90  men  in  all  attended  these  coiu-ses.  As  an 
illustration  of  their  practical  worth  it  is  reported  that  a  new  type  of 
cartridge  case  box  designed  by  one  of  these  men  saved  the  Ordnance 
Department  .$50,000  on  the  first  contract,  besides  saving  $100,000 
worth  of  cargo  space.  Instruction  was  also  given  dry  kiln  operators 
at  various  periods,  to  supplement  the  individual  instructional  Mork 
being  done  by  laboratory  representatives  in  the  field. 

In  concluding  this  chapter  of  the  laboratory's  history,  record 
shoidd  be  made  of  the  fact  that  it  coidd  not  have  been  written  had  it 
not  been  for  the  loyalty  and  enthusiasm  of  the  individual  members  of 
the  staff  and  the  s])irit  of  the  organization  as  a  M'hole  which  overcame 
seemingly  insiu-mountable  obstacles  and  produced  the  results. 


CHAPTEK    V 

FIXAXC'IAI.    VAIA  K    OF    RESEARCH    RESULTS 

Closely  related  as  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory  is  to  much  of 
the  business  life  of  the  country,  and  having  much  of  its  research 
applied  directly  to  industrial  processes,  the  acid  test  of,  "does  it  pay  f. 
is  more  likely  to  be  applied  than  it  would  be  if  the  research  conducted 
here  were  entirely  of  an  abstract  nature.  At  the  same  time  emphasis 
should  be  placed  on  the  fact  that  much  of  the  laboratory  work  has  been 
and  always  will  be  in  the  field  of  pure  science,  laying  the  necessary 
ground  work  for  the  applied  type  of  research  that  finds  expression  in 
many  of  the  ])r()cesses  described  earlier  in  this  volume.  With  far 
Hung  connections  such  as  have  been  built  up  in  ten  years,  and  with  no 
definite  knowledge  of  the  ultimate  distance  traveled  by  the  methods 
and  ideas  radiating  from  here  as  a  center,  it  is  impossible  to  answer  in 
full  the  (piery.  does  it  pay.  or  correctly  estimate  the  true  financial  value 
of  the  research  results  of  the  laboratory.  Any  honest  estimate,  natu- 
rallv.  falls  short  of  the  total. 


()0  The  Fokest  Pkoducts  Labokatoky 

We  do  know  the  operating  cost  of  the  hiboratoiy  for  the  past  ten 
years,  what  has  been  expended  to  produce  the  results  so  far  attained. 
Briefly,  in  the  ten  years  of  its  life,  very  close  to  two  million  dollars 
has  been  appropriated  to  maintain  the  institution.  The  war  period 
accounts  for  a  fair  portion  of  this  total,  so  the  yearly  amount,  exclud- 
ing the  time  of  greatest  expansion,  is,  in  the  light  of  accomplishments, 
low.  While  the  total  gain  cannot  be  estimated  in  dollars  and  cents, 
some  of  the  known  results,  however,  enable  the  use  of  a  yard  stick 
which  will  serve  to  demonstrate  that  organized  industrial  research  in 
wood  is  a  paying  investment. 

The  building  and  construction  trade,  for  example  uses  annually 
about  51/)  billion  feet  of  luml)er  for  structural  purposes  where  strength 
is  important.  This  material  is  worth  roughly  $200,000,000.  In- 
vestigation at  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory  on  the  mechanical 
properties  of  American  woods  has  given  knowledge  permitting  a  20 
per  cent  increase  in  allow\able  working  stresses  in  structural  timbers. 
This  means  a  possible  saving  of  $40,000,000,  of  which  it  is  estimated 
that  some  $4,000,000  is  already  saved  each  year  through  use  of  labora- 
tory data. 

Claims  for  loss  and  damage  to  commodities  in  shipment  actually 
paid  by  the  railroads  amount  to  over  $100,000,000  annually.  Proper 
nailing  and  improved  designs  developed  by  the  laboratory  and  adopted 
by  the  National  Association  of  Box  ]Manuf  acturers,  and  through  them 
by  many  companies  and  shippers,  is  estimated  to  save  a])out  one  per 
cent  of  this  loss,  a  total  saving  of  $1,000,000  a  year. 

Work  on  water-resistant  glues  and  plywood  for  airplanes  carried 
on  at  the  laboratory  during  the  war  emergency  alone  saved  the  War 
Department  a  sum  running  into  millions  in  its  procurement  of  such 
material  during  a  twelve  months'  period. 

Investigations  in  the  use  of  hull  fibre  and  second-cut  linters  for 
pulp  and  paper  have  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  several  plants 
having  a  potential  daily  production  of  300  tons  of  paper  with  an 
annual  sale  value  of  $8,000,000. 

The  adoption  of  improved  methods  of  turpentining  developed  by 
the  Forest  Service  has  resulted  in  increased  yields  and  decreased 
injury  to  timber  wdth  net  savings  aggregating  $4,000,000  per  year. 

The  importance  of  the  knowledge  w^hich  the  laboratory  had 
accumulated  on  suitable  methods  of  drying  and  on  dry -kiln  design 


A  Decennial  Record  01 

at  tlie  beginning  of  the  war,  cannot  l)e  estimated  in  dollars.  It  was 
put  to  immediate  use  in  the  drying  of  lumber  for  all  war  purposes,  as 
gunstocks,  wagon  parts,  artillery  wheel  rims  and  spokes,  airplane  wing 
beams  and  propellers.     The  results  have  l)een  described  elsewhere. 

Preventable  losses  in  commercial  operations,  due  to  improper  air 
drying  and  poor  kiln  drying,  have  aggregated  annually  over  one  bil- 
lion dollars,  at  the  present  price  of  lumber.  How  much  of  this  is  now 
being  saved  through  the  assistance  of  the  laboratory  it  is  difficult  to 
estimate,  but  the  losses  are  obviously  growing  less  through  the  con- 
stantly Avidening  sphere  of  laboratory  influence. 

The  annual  saving  to  American  industries  directly  attributable 
to  the  work  of  the  laboratory  is  estimated  at  approximately  30  million 
dollars,  with  the  possibility  of  a  much  larger  saving  were  full  use  made 
of  the  results  of  its  investigations.  In  addition,  these  results  are  of 
much  value  to  Federal  and  State  Governments  and  to  private  owners 
in  the  management  of  forest  lands,  and  are  promoting  forest  conser- 
vation by  pointing  the  way  to  making  one  tree  do  the  w^ork  of  two. 

Results,  of  course,  cannot  be  obtained  over  night,  and  but  ten 
years  has  elapsed  since  the  beginning  of  the  work.  However,  the 
results  obtained  so  far  have  clearly  demonstrated  tliat  over  any  rea- 
sonable period  of  years,  economies  residting  from  organized  reseai'ch 
so  greatly  exceed  the  expense  involved  that  there  can  be  no  (juestions 
as  to  its  value. 

As  a  side  commentary  on  the  financial  aspects  of  forest  products 
research,  the  practical  value  of  the  work  done  at  ^ladison  has  received 
M'ide  foreign  recognition.  Based  on  a  study  of  this  laboratory  a  similar 
institution  has  been  installed  by  the  Canadian  government:  also  in 
South  Africa.  India,  and  Australia,  the  various  local  governments 
have  called  men  of  the  laboratory  staff  to  direct  research  in  forest 
products  ])articularly  in  the  seasoning  and  kiln  drying  of  timber 
species  commercially  used  there.  In  practically  every  country  on  the 
globe  are  Ial)oratory  contacts,  largely  with  wood-using  industries, 
established  through  re([iiests  for  information  availal)le  at  the  labora- 
tory and  tlie  recognition  of  tlie  ])ractical  value  of  this  information. 


A  Decexxiai.  Recokd  63 


CHAPTER    VI 
FUTI  KE  RESEARCH   IX   FOREST  PRODUCTS 

The  laboratory,  passing,  as  it  did.  through  the  war  witli  a  hirge 
measure  of  service  to  its  cre(ht.  is  now  in  the  post-war  adjustment 
period,  sailing  out  on  a  new  tack.  The  immediate  realignment  of 
forces,  following  tlie  armistice,  the  reduction  in  personnel,  the  clean- 
ing up  of  war  projects,  and  tlie  ai)plication  of  facts  learned  during  the 
war  to  peace  time  industries  and  processes,  liave  l)een  told  earlier  in 
this  book.  The  two  years  that  have  elapsed  since  the  armistice  have 
seen  the  adjustment  largely  completed. 

What  of  the  future,  of  the  problems  still  unsolved,  the  fields  of 
research  visioned  from  this  point,  the  beginning  of  the  second  decade 
of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory's  existence?  Such  a  vision  exists, 
and  its  keynote  is  the  reduction  of  the  annual  drain  ujxhi  the  remain- 
ing forests  of  America  by  more  economical  utilization.  A  vision  of 
service  to  the  wood-using  industries  of  the  country  and  a  desire  to  stop 
the  widening  of  the  alarming  gap  in  America's  economic  fabric — the 
shortage  of  timber  to  meet  our  present  standard  of  civilization — are 
essential  parts  of  this  vision. 

Some  of  the  problems  facing  tlie  wood-using  industries  are  given 
briefly  below,  together  Avith  tlieir  relation  to  past  and  })resent  work 
of  tlie  laboratory.  A  number  of  phases  of  these  problems  are  being 
worked  on  now.  in  so  far  as  provision  has  been  made  to  finance  them, 
either  tlirough  Federal  appropriation  or  through  cooperative  funds. 

77/r  Mechanical  Projjcrtics  of  Wood 

The  laboratory's  work  in  this  field  lias  been  centered  upon  deter- 
mining the  mechanical  properties  of  the  diff'erent  important  commer- 
cial species  of  tlie  United  States.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  some 
130  difi^^erent  species  had  been  tested,  and  the  results  of  these  tests 
formed  tlie  foundation  for  ])ractically  all  of  the  laboratory's  war  work 
where  the  streiiirth  of  timber  was  a  factor.    This  data,  still  incomplete, 


64  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

likewise  forms  a  fundamental  basis  for  determining  the  design  and  use 
of  wood  and  things  made  of  wood;  effect  of  defects;  the  selection  of 
proper  woods  for  various  uses;  the  technical  studies  of  wood-using 
industries;  the  standardization  of  grading  rules  and  })uilding  codes; 
and  the  economic  utilization  of  structural  timbers. 

When  it  is  realized  that  more  than  one-half  of  the  tim})er  cut  each 
year  is  for  structural  use.  the  savings  possible  because  of  the  accurate 
knowledge  of  the  mechanical  properties  of  the  different  woods  may 
be  appreciated.  For  example,  one-sixth  of  the  40  billion  feet  of  lum- 
ber consumed  annually  is  in  the  form  of  l)oxes  and  shipping  containers. 
It  has  been  estimated  that  by  developing  ])alanced  box  construction 
it  will  be  possible  to  use  from  2.5  to  50  per  cent  less  lumber  (equivalent 
to  a  saving  of  from  two  to  three  ])illion  feet  of  lumber  annually) .  and 
at  the  same  time  provide  containers  equal  to  or  better  than  those  now 
used.  The  demands  upon  the  laboratory  for  information  relative  to 
proper  box  construction  are  far  in  excess  of  what  it  can  handle;  and 
while  it  has  made  a  good  many  tests  of  different  types  of  boxes,  it  has 
scarcely  scratched  the  surface  of  the  field  of  possibilities. 

Anotlier  field  in  wliicli  the  mechanical  properties  of  wood  shoidd 
be  studied  is  that  involving  the  steam  bending  of  wood.  This  is  a  field 
in  which  the  percentage  of  waste  is  exceedingly  high,  particularly  in 
the  vehicle,  furniture,  and  cooperage  industries,  due  to  the  high  per- 
centage of  ])reakage  in  the  wood  when  under  bending  pressure.  The 
problem  involves  many  factors.  It  is  one  upon  which  the  laboratory 
has  been  able  to  do  practically  nothing. 

Other  profitable  fields  are  those  involving  the  development  of 
built-up  trusses,  thus  making  possible  the  utilization  of  low  grade 
lumber;  the  development  of  joints  and  fastenings  in  timber  construc- 
tion; the  eff'ect  of  growth  conditions  on  the  properties  of  wood,  and 
especially  the  determination  of  the  differences  in  the  meclianical  prop- 
erties of  the  second  growth  timber  now  coming  to  merchantable  size, 
and  upon  which  the  industries  will  be  more  and  more  dependent ;  the 
development  of  laminated  construction  permitting  greater  utilization 
of  small  sized  and  low  grade  material;  comprehensive  tests  on  full 
sized  timbers  used  as  columns  for  building  construction ;  the  standard- 
ization of  building  codes  so  that  each  species  will  be  given  its  proper 
place,  based  upon  its  true  mechanical  value,  thus  avoiding  tlie  large 


A  Decennial  Kecokd  «5 


waste  now  resulting  from  the  inefficient  selection  and  utilization  of 
material. 

77/ r  Preservative  Treatment  of  Wood 

This  is  a  large  field  of  conservation  possihilities.  To  date  the 
laboratory's  work  has  been  directed  mainly  to  determining  the  pene- 
trability of  different  species  with  available  commercial  preservatives 
and  to  developing  more  efficient  processes  of  treating  wood  to  protect 
it  against  decav.  Recent  estimates  show  that  the  annual  loss  due  to 
decay  in  varied'  forms  of  structural  timbers,  such  as  railroad  ties,  mine 
timbers,  pihng,  bridge  timliers,  posts,  poles,  etc.,  amounts  to  as  much 
material  as  is  annually  lost  by  forest  fires.  A\^ood  preservation  has 
been  demonstrated  as  commercially  profitable,  but  its  practice  is  not 
as  general  as  it  should  be,  and  preservative  methods  are  still  susceptible 
to  much  improvement. 

The  laboratorv  has  also  done  a  limited  amount  of  work  on  the 
problem  of  fire-])roofing  wood,  but  has  not  had  the  facilities  nor  the 
organization  to  carrv  it  to  the  point  of  success.  Of  the  annual  fire 
loss  in  this  countrv  a  great  deal  could  be  prevented  by  the  develop- 
ment of  more  effective  and  cheaper  methods  of  fire-proofing  wood. 
■Research  in  this  field  is  necessarily  expensive,  but  the  possibdities  of 
saving  both  timber  and  property  are  so  great  and  important  that  work 
of  this  character  should  not  be  long  postponed. 

Great  cpiantities  of  mine  timbers  are  destroyed  annually  l)y  decay 
because  thev  are  not  given  preservative  treatment.  The  amount  of 
timber  usedin  the  mines  throughout  the  country  is  staggering,  and  the 
laboratorv  should  have  men  in  the  field  most  of  the  time  conferring 
with  mine  officials,  demonstrating  the  value  of  wood  preservatives  and 
promoting  their  use.  Much  of  the  necessary  ex])eruneiital  work  on 
the  treatment  of  mine  timber  has  been  done,  and  its  value  has  been 
conclusivelv  ])roved,  but  the  laboratory  has  not  the  organization  to 
carry  its  iiiformation  to  tlie  mine  and  demonstrate  its  application 

and  use.  .         i         . 

Similarlv,  great  (luantities  of  timber  used  as  piling  in  salt  water 
are  destroved  annuallv  bv  marine  borers.  Incidents  may  be  cited 
where  large  docks  and  over-water  buildings  erected  at  great  expense 
have  been  undermined  and  practically  destroyed  within  a  year  or  two 


66  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

after  construction,  due  to  the  attack  of  the  marine  borers.  The  lab- 
oratory has  done  some  work  on  this  problem  cooperating  with  a 
committee  of  business  men  on  the  West  Coast,  but  the  problem  of 
finding  a  more  effective  treatment  to  protect  piling  against  these  bor- 
ers is  one  calling  for  urgent  consideration,  both  from  timber-conserva- 
tion and  property-maintenance  standpoints. 

Because  of  the  gradual  depletion  of  eastern  woods,  railroads  in 
the  East  and  Middle  West  are  being  forced  more  and  more  to  use  the 
far  western  species  for  ties  and  structural  purposes.  Many  of  these 
woods  are  of  the  so-called  inferior  species,  and  they  must  be  given 
preservative  treatment  in  order  to  render  effective  service.  A  num- 
ber of  them,  however,  take  treatment  with  difficulty,  and  the  present 
investigations  of  the  laboratory  are  inadequate  to  recommend  treating 
processes  which  are  whollj^  satisfactory.  The  laboratory  plans  to 
continue  its  work  on  these  species,  but  its  organization  and  finances  are 
inadequate  to  attack  it  on  the  scale  its  importance  justifies. 

During  the  war  the  laboratory  was  called  upon  by  the  Army 
and  Navy  to  conduct  a  series  of  researches  involving  the  development 
and  use  of  water-resistant  glues.  The  results  of  this  work  have 
found  wide  application  for  peacetime  uses,  including  the  manufacture 
of  plywood,  laminated  articles,  airplane  construction,  etc.  The  de- 
velopment of  most  effective  glues  in  relation  to  the  service  which 
wooden  products  should  give,  is,  however,  still  in  its  infancy,  and  it 
is  difficult  to  predict  what  economic  savings  may  result  from  intensive 
research  in  this  field. 

Laminated  wood  is  becoming  increasingly  practical,  and  develop- 
ments in  its  manufacture  hold  out  promise  of  great  improvement  in 
wood  utilization  practice.  They  may  even  have  a  profoimd  effect  on 
the  future  methods  of  forestry  in  making  it  unnecessary  to  raise  trees 
of  large  size.  Even  under  conditions  existing  today,  the  development 
of  laminated  construction  will  open  a  market  for  the  profitable  use  of 
millions  of  feet  of  small  material  now  wasted.  The  single  discovery 
of  a  process  of  making  a  durable  water-proof  glue  which  will  withstand 
outside  climatical  conditions  will  open  a  great  field  for  laminated 
products. 


A  Decennial  Record 


67 


The  Chemical  Utilization  of  Wood 

From  the  standpoint  of  utilizing  waste,  this  is  an  important  field 
calling  for  further  development  in  our  knowledge  of  the  chemistry  of 
wood  and  the  application  of  that  knowledge  to  the  chemical  and  by- 
products industries.  The  laboratory  has  had  a  small  force  of  specially 
trained  men  engaged  in  studying  the  processes  by  which  some  of  the 
more  important  chemical  products,  including  ethyl  alcohol,  methyl 
alcohol,  acetic  acid,  tannin,  etc.,  are  derived  from  wood.  It  has  not 
been  able  to  ad^-ance  far  in  a  fundamental  study  of  the  chemistry  of 
wood  cellulose  or  to  investigate  in  a  comprehensive  way  many  other 
problems  which  hold  out  promise  of  utilizing  present  waste. 

It  has  been  stated  that  in  the  waste  resulting  from  the  lumbering 
and  milling  of  southern  pine  there  are  values  in  chemical  products 
greater  than  the  value  of  the  lumber  manufactured.  The  problem  is 
to  work  out  practical  processes  for  reclaiming  these  values.  One  of 
these  products,  for  example,  is  grain  or  ethyl  alcohol.  The  laboratory 
has  done  considerable  work  in  developing  efficient  processes  for  con- 
verting sawdust  and  wood  waste  into  ethyl  alcohol  and  the  process  is 
now  on  a  commercial  basis.  This  alcohol  is  of  high  purity.  It  is  an 
efficient  fuel  for  gas  engines  and  finds  wide  use  tlu'oughout  the  chemi- 
cal and  pharmaceutical  industries.  To  extend  the  use  of  the  process 
further,  intensive  and  exhaustive  investigations  to  secure  greater  effi- 
ciency and  lower  production  costs  are  desirable. 

Another  example  of  how  new  uses  for  wood  waste  may  be  discov- 
ered through  research  is  the  recent  development  by  the  laboratory  of 
a  stock  food  prepared  from  M'hite  pine  sawdust.  Results  from  the 
preliminary  feeding  of  this  material  by  the  University  of  Wisconsin 
indicate  that  a  carbohydrate  food  from  sawdust  of  many  coniferous 
species  may  be  made  and  that  it  has  a  value  equivalent  to  one-half 
that  of  barley  and  similar  stock  foods.  Conservative  estimates  indicate 
that  it  can  be  produced  under  present  conditions  at  a])proximately 
J^T.OO  per  ton. 

Another  striking  and  important  field  em])races  the  problem  of 
providing  a  future  supply  of  w^ood  alcohol  obtained  primarily  by 
destructive  distillation  of  hardwood.  Many  of  the  basic  industries  are 
dependent  upon  wood  alcohol,  and  no  other  means  of  producing  this 


FOREST    SERVICE    IMPROVEMENTS    IN    TURPEXTININCx    PROCESSES    REPRESENT    AN 
ANNUAL   SAVING  TO  INDUSTRY   OP  $3,000,000 


A  Decexxiai.  Recokd  <>9 


product  have  yet  been  discovered.  The  growing  scarcity  of  hardwoods 
makes  the  problem  of  its  future  supply  increasingly  acute.  The  labora- 
tory has  given  some  study  to  the  different  processes  now^  used  in  wood 
distillation,  and  during  tlie  past  year  it  has  developed  certain  modifi- 
cations AN'liich  indicate  that  the  yield  of  wood  alcohol  from  a  given 
(luantity  of  wood  may  lie  increased  about  50  per  cent  over  the  present 
normal  production.  It  is  important  that  this  wliole  field  be  studied 
more  comprehensively  than  the  laboratory  is  now  able  to  do,  not  only 
in  order  that  processes  may  be  made  more  efficient,  but  that  the  pro- 
ductive value  of  new  woods  may  be  determined. 

Still  another  field,  in  which  better  methods  of  utilization  are 
urgent,  embraces  the  turpentine  and  rosin  industry.  This  industry 
is  in  a  precarious  situation  liecause  of  the  rapid  exhaustion  of  southern 
yellow  pine  which  is  its  main  and  practically  only  source  of  supply. 
Xot  only  is  it  one  of  the  oldest  industries  in  the  country  but  it  gives 
the  Ignited  States  the  leadershij)  in  the  world  in  the  production  of 
tur])entine  and  rosin.  It  is  imbued  with  old  ideas  and  in  many  cases 
is  following  old  customs  with  consequent  waste  of  raw  material. 
While  the  laboratory  has  already  developed  methods  which  have  elim- 
inated some  of  this  waste  and  have  increased  the  yield  of  both  turpen- 
tine and  rosin,  further  work  is  desirable  in  order  that  the  hfe  of  the 
industry  may  be  prolonged  ])y  developing  maximum  production  from 
the  longleaf  ])ine  timl)er  now  remaining. 

There  are  many  otlicr  lines  which  give  ])romise  of  reclaiming 
wood  now  wasted  and  of  increasing  the  value  of  products  already 
being  reclaimed.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  studies  to  improve 
tire  boxes  and  grates  so  as  to  get  the  maximum  lieat  from  wood  waste 
when  l)urned  in  fire  plants:  the  ]n'()duction  from  wood  of  absor])cnt 
and  decolorizing  charcoal;  the  effect  of  various  species  used  in  food 
containers  on  the  odor  and  taste  of  the  contents:  and  the  methods  of 
treating  M'ood  to  remove  odor  and  taste:  and  methods  for  decolorizing 
rosin  ()])tainable  from  i)ine  stumps,  thus  making  it  comparable  to  that 
obtained  from  the  living  tree. 

The  ViUhatiou  of  Wood  for  PuJj)  and  Paper 

It  is  unnecessary  to  call  attention  to  the  importance  to  the  nation 
of  the  pulp  and  pa])er  industry.     Its  products  weave  into  every  other 


70  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

industry  and  almost  every  activity  of  the  nation.  Under  present 
methods  of  converting  trees  into  pulp  this  industry  is  dependent  for 
its  raw  supphes  upon  three  per  cent  of  the  standing  timber  remaining. 
This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  present  processes  are  commercially  adapted 
to  a  very  few  species  only.  This  accounts,  in  part,  for  the  fact  that 
the  pulp  mill  industry  in  the  East  and  the  Lake  States  faces  exhaus- 
tion of  local  timber  within  a  decade  or  two,  and  the  future  of  the 
industry  for  the  country  as  a  whole  rests  upon  the  development  of 
processes  which  will  make  it  commercially  practical  to  use  species 
other  than  those  now  being  used,  especially  western  woods  which  com- 
prise over  60  per  cent  of  our  remaining  timber. 

The  laboratory's  work  in  the  pulp  and  paper  field  has  been 
focused  primarily  in  determining  the  value  of  our  different  species 
for  pulp  and  paper.  More  than  70  different  species  have  been  studied. 
A  process  was  recently  developed,  for  example,  whereby  a  high  grade 
book  paper  may  be  made  from  southern  yellow  pine.  This  process, 
put  to  commercial  application,  makes  available  the  southern  pineries 
as  a  source  of  book  paper  and  thus  relieves  the  drain  upon  the  species 
now  used,  the  supply  of  Mhich  is  rapidly  being  exhausted. 

A  further  field  of  research  work  promising  high  returns,  particu- 
larly in  the  East  where  the  industry  has  been  long  established,  em- 
braces the  prevention  of  waste  and  the  greater  utilization  of  the  timber 
supply  now  available.  It  is  conservatively  estimated  that  with  proper 
research  to  develop  increased  utilization,  our  remaining  pulpwood 
su23ply  will  produce,  unit  for  unit,  double  the  finished  jn-oduct  that  is 
now  being  obtained.  Present  chemical  processes  applied  to  over  30 
per  cent  of  the  wood  used  in  producing  newsprint,  for  example,  con- 
vert less  than  50  per  cent  of  the  raw  wood  into  paper.  The  remainder 
passes  off  as  waste.    It  contains  valuable  chemical  constituents. 

Tremendous  losses  occur  in  the  storage  of  pulp  wood  and  of  the 
manufactiu-ed  pulp.  These  losses  are  placed  by  the  industry  at  about 
$5,000,000  annually.  They  are  due  to  fungus  decay  which  the  mills, 
to  date,  have  been  unable  to  combat,  owing  to  the  lack  of  knowledge 
of  the  fungi  and  their  methods  of  attack,  and  of  proper  methods  of 
control.  Within  the  past  year  (1920)  the  laboratory  has  made  a  study 
of  this  problem  in  cooperation  with  the  industry  which  has  supplied 
a  large  part  of  the  necessary  money  to  conduct  the  work.  Preliminary 
results  indicate  that  much  can  be  done  to  check  the  decay  by  applying 


A  Decennial  Record  71 

proper  methods  of  storage  to  both  pulp  and  pulp  wood  and  by  treatmg 
the  pulp  with  antiseptics.  These  possibilities  should  be  fully  investi- 
gated, and  the  limiting  concentrations  of  antiseptics  already  found 
effective  should  be  clearly  determined. 

Much  more  comprehensive  work  should  be  done  in  studying  the 
chemistry  and  fundamental  practice  of  the  cooking  processes,  as  at 
present  conducted  by  the  pulp  and  paper  industry.  These  processes 
have  not  been  improved  to  any  degree  for  a  long  period,  and  there 
appears  to  be  little  doubt  but  that  there  is  great  room  for  improve- 
ment, not  only  in  cooking  but  likewise  in  the  bleaching  processes. 

Over  50  per  cent  of  the  weight  of  the  wood  that  enters  the 
chemical  pulp  mills,  or  over  2,000,000  tons,  is  now  dissolved  in  the 
cooking  liquors.  Of  this  less  than  a  third  finds  ultimate  use  and  that 
merely  as  a  fuel.  It  contains,  however,  methyl  and  ethyl  alcohols, 
acetones,  acetic  acid,  various  oils  and  materials  from  which  it  should 
be  possible  to  obtain  a  vast  number  of  other  valuable  products.  The 
pulp-maker,  however,  is  not  essentially  a  chemist  and  avoids  by-prod- 
ucts processes  that  are  purely  chemical.  It  is  a  problem  that  should 
be  undertaken  by  the  research  men. 

Physical  Properties  of  Wood 

The  laboratory's  work  in  this  field  has  been  along  two  main  lines : 

( 1 )  The  development  of  efficient  methods  of  kiln  drying  lumber,  and 

(2)  the  identification  of  woods  and  the  relation  of  their  structure  to 
their  properties.  The  latter  is  important  and  fundamental  to  the 
determination  of  the  penetrability  of  different  woods  by  preservatives, 
fire-retardent  solutions,  coatings  and  glues,  the  explanation  of  phe- 
nomena occurring  in  kiln  drying,  such  as  shrinkage,  casehardening, 
etc.,  and  the  detection  and  effect  of  decay  and  other  strength-reducing 
factors. 

Considera])le  work  along  both  lines  has  been  done  by  the  labora- 
tory, but  the  respective  fields  are  so  large  and  the  laboratory's  facili- 
ties so  small  in  proportion,  that  many  of  the  more  fundamental  prob- 
lems remain  incomplete.  The  seasoning  process  is  an  especially  weak 
link  in  the  chain  of  processes  transforming  the  log  into  the  finished 
product,  and  the  annual  loss  incident  to  poor  seasoning  runs  into  many 
millions  of  feet.    The  laboratorv  has  worked  out  some  of  the  funda- 


WOOD  TECHNOLOGY— THE  MICROSCOPE  IS  USEFUL  IN  IDENTIFICATION  AND  IN  THE: 
STUDY  OP  DIOCAY,  PRESERVATION,   COATINGS,  AND   OTHER  FACTORS 


A  Decennial  Record 


mental  pliysicul  laws  governing  the  drying  of  wood  and  the  relation 
of  moisture  to  strength. 

This  data  forms  the  groundwork  whereby  charaeteristie  indus- 
trial problems  involved  in  the  seasoning  processes  have  been  dealt  with 
extensively  and  through  whieli  this  country,  shortly  after  its  entrance 
into  the  war.  became  recognized  as  the  highest  authority  in  the  world 
on  the  kiln  drying  of  wood.  This  data,  incomplete  though  it  still  is, 
has  already  done  much  to  promote  more  scientific  and  more  efficient 
kiln  drying  of  wood. 

The  laboratory  has  not  only  worked  out  kiln-drying  schedules  for 
a  number  of  our  more  important  species,  but  it  has  developed  two 
types  of  dry  kilns,  one  es])ecially  adapted  to  slowly  drying  refactory 
hardwoods  and  the  other  to  rapidly  drying  softwoods.  Within  its 
limited  means  it  has  given  assistance  to  Imnber  companies  and  wood- 
working plants  in  designing  and  remodelling  commercial  kilns,  and 
through  experiments  it  has  developed  methods  of  kiln  drying  many 
kinds  of  linnber  green  from  the  saw,  reducing,  in  some  cases,  the  time 
of  drying  as  much  as  from  4  or  5  years  to  90  or  100  days. 

With  an  expanded  organization  it  would  be  possible  to  bring 
about  very  generally  better  methods  of  drying  wood,  by  sending  lab- 
oratory representatives  to  the  different  plants  and  helping  tliem  to 
solve  their  problems  upon  the  ground.  In  the  coiu-se  of  a  year  the 
laboratory  receives  many  such  requests,  but  is  able  to  meet  relatively 
few  of  them  without  interrupting  its  regular  work. 

There  is,  fiu'tliermore,  great  need  for  more  extensive  study  of 
auxihary  dry-kiln  ap})aratus  in  order  to  sim])lify  the  operation  of 
dry  kilns:  the  development  of  humidity  control  in  shops  and  storage 
sheds;  the  improvement  of  drying  schedules  for  many  species  upon 
which  conclusive  investigations  have  not  yet  been  possible:  and  the 
devel()])ment  of  improved  methods  of  air  seasoning  limiber  in  order  to 
reduce  degrade  to  the  minimum. 

Industrial  luvcsiigdtlous 

This  field  might  be  termed  "the  technical  study  of  the  efficiency 
of  wood  conversion  processes".  It  is  a  field  in  which  the  laboratory's 
work  has  been  exceedingly  limited,  owing  to  the  fact  that  an  adequate 
organization  has  not  been  available.     Some  of  the  problems  involved 


74  The  Fokest  Products  Labokatoky 

are  the  standardization  of  lumber  grades  and  specifications;  effect 
upon  the  cost  of  production  of  various  sizes  and  grades  of  logs;  effi- 
ciency and  character  of  mill  operations ;  studies  of  processes  of  manu- 
facturing furniture,  vehicle,  cooperage,  etc.,  and  the  wood  waste 
incident  thereto;  and  the  correlation  of  the  properties  of  different 
species  to  their  most  efficient  use. 

As  an  example  of  the  tremendous  possi])ilities  of  conserving 
timber  through  such  studies  the  dimension-stock  problem  may  be 
mentioned.  The  total  requirements  of  the  secondary  wood-using  in- 
dustries for  wood  in  dimension  stock  sizes  amounts  to  eight  or  nine 
billion  feet  annually.  Of  this  amount,  some  five  or  six  billion  feet  is 
small  dimension  stock  which  is  cut  from  standard  lumber  sizes  after 
the  lumber  has  reached  the  wood-using  factory.  The  extent  to  which 
this  practice  causes  waste  cannot  be  accurately  gauged,  but  it  is  the 
opinion  of  many  of  those  who  have  carefully  studied  the  problem  that 
a  large  percentage  of  this  small  dimension  stock  material  could  be  cut 
at  tlie  mills  from  material  now  wasted. 

The  laboratory  plans  to  assign  a  number  of  men  to  this  dimension 
stock  problem  with  the  ultimate  object  of  determining  by  accurate 
studies  the  most  efficient  process  by  which  the  standing  tree  can  be 
manufactured  into  the  dimension  standards  required  by  the  wood- 
using  industries.  This  is  merely  one  of  the  many  important  problems 
which  should  be  undertaken  in  the  same  field. 

Estimated  Saving,  Ten  Billion  Feet 

The  foregoing  indicates,  in  a  very  broad  way,  the  character  of  the 
work  in  which  the  laboratory  is  now  engaged  and  tlie  large  and  profit- 
able field  before  it.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  ^'alue  of  research 
work  of  the  character  which  is  being  done,  whether  performed  by  the 
laboratory  or  some  other  organization.  It  is  one  of  the  most  effective 
and  practical  measures  for  meeting  the  forest  problem.  There  is  no 
extravagance  in  the  statement  that  it  is  entirely  feasible  to  save  ten 
billion  feet  annually  through  better  utilization. 


A  Decennial  Record  7.5 

CHAPTER    VII 
HOW    TO    USE    THE    LABORATORY 

To  a  greater  or  less  degree  every  wood-using  industry  of  the 
country  is  a  prospective  user  of  the  Forest  Products  Lahoratory  or 
the  data  available  there.  This  statement  is  made  with  a  fair  apprecia- 
tion of  the  vast  complexity  of  the  inter-relation  of  the  many  different 
aspects  of  this  great  primary  industry.  Sooner  or  later  in  the  long 
process  from  the  forest  giant  growing  peacefully  in  the  fastness  of  the 
far-away  hills  to  the  finished  article  of  commerce  containing  wood  in 
its  make-up,  a  number  of  contacts  of  common  interest  will  be  devel- 
oped by  every  one  of  these  industries,  however  unrelated  the  ultimate 
products.  Economies  in  logging,  in  saw  mill  practice,  in  kiln  drying, 
in  the  elimination  of  loss  all  along  the  line,  in  the  development  of  means 
of  utilizing  what  is  now  waste  by-product,  all  these  will  ultimately 
affect  the  wood  user  through  cheaper  or  more  stable  supplies  of  raw 
material,  whether  this  user  be  a  man  building  a  house,  a  plant  turning 
out  wagons,  a  pulp  manufacturer,  or  the  maker  of  wooden  mouse 
traps.  The  laboratory,  through  its  contact  with  all  phases  of  forest 
products,  has  something  of  interest  to  all  of  these. 

Tlie  prospective  user  should  think  of  the  laboratory  as  a  big 
reservoir  of  facts  bearing  on  his  industry,  which  he,  as  a  taxpayer,  has 
helped  to  create  and  which  he  can  tap  on  demand.  If  he  is  engaged  in 
a  business  that  has  a  relatively  wide  bearing  on  wood  and  its  use — for 
instance,  wood  preservation,  pulp  and  paper,  kiln  drying — he  will  find 
liere  information  in  great  detail,  even  the  most  complete  data  in  exist- 
ence ])earing  on  his  pro])lems.  Many  minor  fields  and  side  trails  of 
the  vast  ramifications  of  the  wood-using  industries  have  also  been 
probed  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  or,  if  problems  in  these  lesser  lines 
have  not  been  specially  covered,  light  may  be  thrown  on  them  through 
knowledge  obtained  by  work  done  in  related  fields. 

"Ask  and  it  shall  ])e  given  you",  might  be  the  first  suggestion  for 
using  the  laboratory.  The  daily  quota  of  laboratory  mail  contains 
many  requests  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  usually  a  num- 


ray 

Pmt             IK  ll                   a        "^ 

Bi«S_ 

THE  C()XTR()L  AND  OPERATION  P:ND  OP  A  DRY  KIEX  AT  THE  LABORATORY 


A  Deckxxiaj.  Kkc'okd 


ber  of  far  corners  of  the  world  for  information,  publications,  and  ad- 
vice on  general  and  specific  phases  of  problems  arising  in  every  con- 
ceivable soi-t  of  wood-using  industry.  If  a  problem  comes  within  the 
field  covered  by  the  laboratory — and  this  field  has  been  indicated  in 
other  chapters  of  this  l)()ok — the  mail  and  telegraph  will  tap  the  lab- 
oratory's reservoir  of  information  on  demand.  Many  companies  and 
individuals  have  found  personal  conference  of  Aalue.  and  this  medium 
of  communication  with  the  industries  is  welcomed.  Further,  the  lab- 
oratory is  always  available  for  either  a  short  or  extended  study  and 
investigation  of  its  methods  and  lines  of  work  not  only  by  American 
citizens  but  by  accredited  representatives  of  foreign  wood  users  or 
governments. 

Naturally,  for  any  of  the  services  rendered  as  just  outlined,  there 
is  no  charge.  A  vast  amount  of  material — reports  and  articles,  printed 
bulletins,  photographs  and  diagrams  has  been  prepared  for  distrilm- 
tion  and,  as  far  as  available,  will  lie  furnished  gratis  on  ])()na  fide 
request. 

With  the  establishment  of  fundamental  principles  and  processes, 
and  the  outlining  of  standard  methods  of  testing,  the  laboratory 
gradually  has  entered,  in  the  past  two  years,  a  new  phase  of  relations 
with  the  wood-using  industries,  namely,  cooperative  service.  While 
essentially  a  government  activity  conducting  research  in  forest  prod- 
ucts for  the  benefit  of  the  people  of  the  Ignited  States,  its  ])ur])()se  is 
best  served  when  the  residts  of  its  work  are  of  broadest  application  and 
of  most  permanent  value  in  promoting  the  economical  use  of  wood. 

The  laboratory  is  maintained  and  operated  by  annual  appropria- 
tions made  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  Tliese  ap])ro])ria- 
tions  are  based  u])()n  general  estimates  of  work  to  be  imdertaken 
during  the  ensuing  fiscal  year,  so  that  the  amount  of  money  a])pro- 
priated  by  Congress  for  the  la])oratory's  use  must  be  spent  in  accord- 
ance with  an  annual  ])rogram  of  work.  In  kee])ing  with  the  purpose 
of  tlie  laboratory,  it  is  tlie  ])()lify  of  tlie  Government  to  make  this 
])rogram,  in  so  far  as  possible,  one  of  fimdamental  research,  the  results 
of  wliich  will  be  of  greatest  benefit  and  of  most  lasting  value  from  a 
public  standpoint.  In  addition,  it  is  necessary  to  provide  sufficient 
money  to  disseminate  its  data  and  information,  free  of  charge,  througli 
correspondence,  which  averages  3,000  letters  a  month,  and  through 
re])orts  and  special  ai-ticles. 


78  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

From  the  foregoing,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  laboratory  does  not 
have  available  money  with  which  to  undertake  projects  not  included 
in  its  regular  j^rogram  of  work.  The  amount  annually  made  available 
by  Congress  must  be  spent  in  accordance  with  a  general  program 
approved  by  it.  This  sum,  however,  is  much  less  than  could  be  ex- 
pended effectively  with  the  laboratory's  present  facilities. 

Recognizing  the  further  opportunity  for  service,  the  laboratory 
has  adopted  the  policy  of  undertaking  cooperative  work  up  to  the  point 
where  it  can  be  handled  efficiently  and  without  disruption  of  its  regu- 
lar jDrogram  of  fundamental  work.  A  number  of  important  consid- 
erations influenced  the  Forest  Service  in  offering  this  cooperative 
service,  among  which  are : 

( 1 )  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory  is  the  only  organization 
of  its  kind  in  this  country'  fully  equipped  to  conduct  intensive  re- 
search in  all  lines  of  wood  utilization  and  readily  available  to  the 
lumber-  and  wood-using  industries.  During  the  ten  years  of  its 
existence,  it  has  built  up  a  great  fund  of  scientific  information  on 
wood  which  is  usually  of  direct  ^alue  and  application  in  the  solu- 
tion of  specific  problems,  thus  making  it  possible  to  solve  many 
new  problems  with  a  minimum  amoimt  of  new  research.  The 
idea  behind  its  cooperative  service  is  thus  to  place  its  facilities, 
organization,  and  fund  of  information  at  the  disposal  of  the  indus- 
tries under  the  best  terms  possible  and  practicable.  The  alterna- 
tive would  be  to  attempt  no  research  except  that  provided  for  in 
its  approved  program. 

(2)  A  certain  amount  of  cooperative  work,  it  is  believed,  is  a 
healthy  thing  for  an  organization  of  this  character.  It  not  only 
increases  contact  between  the  laboratory  and  the  wood  users,  thus 
stimulating  appreciation  of  one  another's  problems,  but  it  adds 
to  the  general  fund  of  scientific  information  on  wood.  While  all 
information  in  possession  of  the  laboratory  is  disseminated  free 
of  charge,  much  of  this  information  is  incomplete  when  applied 
to  specialized  commercial  problems.  Cooperative  service  makes 
available  to  the  industries  an  opportunity,  which  otherwise  would 
not  be  available,  to  supplement  by  special  research  at  minimum 
cost  any  incomplete  data  in  possession  either  of  the  laboratory  or 
of  the  industry.  And  it  tends  to  utilize  the  full  capacity  of  the 
laboratory. 


COOPEKATIVK   BOX   WoKK— A   STUDY   OF   DIAGONAL  COMPRESSION 


80  The  Fokest  Pkoducts  Lahokatoky 

In  ottering  cooperative  service,  however,  it  has  been  necessary  to 
place  certain  hniitations  upon  the  work  which  will  be  accepted.  The 
laboratory  does  not  desire  to  engage  in  mere  routine  testing,  and  it  is 
not  its  purpose  to  do  so.  To  meet  all  requests  of  this  character  w^ould 
require  many  times  its  present  appropriation.  Especially  does  it 
avoid  a  type  of  routine  work  that  could  be  readily  done  by  an  industry 
through  the  installation  of  simple  testing  machinery,  at  reasonable 
cost,  by  the  industry  itself.  Advice  on  such  installations  will  invari- 
ably be  given  if  desired.  It  is  not  its  purpose  to  promote  one  product 
as  against  another,  but  to  present  facts  which  will  enable  the  public  and 
the  industries  to  put  wood  to  its  best  use.  It  has  therefore  adopted  as 
one  of  its  underlying  principles  of  this  cooperative  work  that  it  will  not 
accept  any  project  the  results  of  which  will  not  be  of  some  general 
value  and  application.  As  between  two  pieces  of  cooperative  work, 
only  one  of  which  the  laboratory  could  undertake,  the  one  would  be 
accepted  which  it  appeared  would  give  results  of  broadest  application. 

The  conditions  under  which  this  cooperative  service  is  rendered 
are: 

( 1 )  The  laboratory  will  plan  and  carry  out  the  tests  of  investi- 
gations desired  and  will  prepare  the  necessary  report.  The  coop- 
erator  will  pay  all  expenses  incidental  to  the  work.  He  will  be 
charged  actual  cost  of  work  only.  The  laboratory  does  not  render 
cooperative  services  on  a  profit  basis.  In  cases  wliere  the  work  is 
of  direct  value  in  furthering  the  regular  research  program  of  the 
laboratory,  the  cost  is  often  divided  between  the  laboratory  and 
the  cooperator. 

(2)  The  laboratory  shall  have  the  unrestricted  right  to  publish 
and  distribute  tlic  residts  o])tained  from  the  investigation.  The 
cooj^erator  shall  not  publish  for  general  distribution  any  state- 
ments or  reports  commiting  the  laboratory  unless  specific  ap- 
proval is  first  obtained.  Experience  has  shown  this  restriction 
necessary  as  a  protection  to  the  laboratory,  the  cooperator,  and 
the  public  against  possible  misuse  of  data  obtained  and  against 
dissemination  of  incomplete  and  misleading  results.  The  value 
of  the  laboratory's  work  depends  upon  the  authenticity  of  its  re- 
sults and  the  confidence  which  the  public  and  the  industries  can 
])lace  in  them  at  all  time. 

(3)  Results  are  not  subject  to  private  patent. 


A  Decennial  Record  81 

The  cooperative  service  offered  by  the  laboratory  is  thus  an  effort 
to  aid  the  industries,  at  niininium  expense,  in  a  larger  way  than  would 
be  possible  by  limiting  activities  exclusively  to  the  work  authorized  by 
annual  appropriations  from  Congress.  It  in  no  way  commercializes 
the  work  of  the  laboratory,  because  all  information  available  on  any 
phase  of  wood  utilization  is  furnished  free  upon  request  or  through 
personal  consultation.  But  sj^ecial  problems,  involving  additional 
data  and  investigations  outside  its  regular  program  of  research,  can  be 
handled  only  under  the  conditions  stated. 

Individuals  or  companies,  by  referring  their  wood  problems  to 
the  laboratory,  may  obtain  in  advance  a  statement  of  the  tests  or  in- 
vestigations thought  necessary  to  their  solution  and  an  estimate  of  the 
cost.  Communications  should  })e  addressed  to  the  Director,  Forest 
Products  Laboratory,  Madison,  Wisconsin. 


PART  II 


A  Decexxiai.  Recokd 


THE    DECENNIAL 

The  culiiiiiiation  of  the  first  ten  years  of  the  hfe  of 
the  laboratory  came  with  the  Decennial  Celebration  on 
July  22  and  23,  1920,  at  Madison,  Wisconsin.  That  the 
ten  years  was  fruitful  of  no  small  measin*e  of  service  and 
establishment  of  good  will  among  those  whom  the  lab- 
oratory was  intended  to  serve  is  shown  by  the  registra- 
tion during  the  two  days'  festivities,  which  were  attended 
by  269  visitors  from  22  states  and  Canada  and  Porto 
Rico.  Largely  drawn  from  the  nation's  wood-using 
and  forest  and  lumbering  interests,  these  representative 
business  men  and  friends  were  given  opportunity  to 
study  the  development  of  the  laboratory  as  it  stands 
today  in  physical  e(iuipment  and  facilities  for  future 
service.  On  the  part  of  the  laboratory,  it  was  the  laying 
of  a  new  foundation  stone  for  the  erection  of  a  greater 
laboratory,  the  gaining  of  inspiration  to  press  on  to  the 
making  of  a  new  ten-year  record.  Service  to  the  wood- 
using  industries  of  the  country  indirectly,  and  primarily 
the  extension  of  the  usefulness  of  America's  forests,  so 
vital  to  the  welfare  of  our  present  standard  of  civiliza- 
tion, were  the  keynotes  of  the  decennial. 

The  program  and  proceedings  of  the  celebration 
follow. 


86  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 


PROGRAM  OF  THE  DECEXXIAL  CELEBRATION 
FOREST  PRODUCTS  LABORATORY 

Thursday,  July  22,  1920 
Registratiox 

Headquarters  have  been  estabhshed  at  the  Park  Hotel 
on  Capitol  Square  and  all  are  requested  to  go  there  for 
room  reservations,  registration,  banquet  tickets,  train 
schedules  and  other  information. 

10:30  a.  m.     General  Assembly 

Agricultural  Hall,  University  of  Wisconsin 

H.  F.  Weiss,  Chairman,  Consulting  Engineer,  C.  F. 
Burgess  Laboratories  and  Former  Director,  Forest 
Products  Laboratory. 

"Legislative  Measures  for  Forest  Conservation" 
The  Honorable  Emanuel  L.  Philip^),  Governor  of  Wis- 
consin, 

"Translating  Knowledge  Into  Power" 
E.  A.  Birge,  LL.D.,  S.C.E.,  President  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Wisconsin. 

"The  Forest  Products  Laboratory" 
C.  P.  Winslow,  Director,  Forest  Products  Laboratory. 

12:00  noon    Luncheon 

Gymnasium.,  University  of  Wisconsin 

1 :00  p.  M.     Inspection  of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

(Report  at  the  main  building  of  the  lal)oratory  on  Uni- 
versity Avenue  and  join  a  party  with  a  guide.) 
The  Home  Economics  Department  of  the  LTniversity  of 
Wisconsin  will  hold  a  special  demonstration  for  the  bene- 
fit of  visiting  ladies. 


A  Decennial  Record  87 


4 :00  p.  M.     Recreation 

Automobile  tour  of  the  city,  boating  and  swimming. 

7 :00  p.  M.     Banquet 

Gymnasium,  University  of  Wisconsin 

Burr  W.  Jones,  LL.D.,  Toastmaster. 
"Forests  and  National  Prosperity" 
Lieutenant-Colonel  W.   B.   Greeley,   Forester,   Forest 
Service,  United  States  DeiJartment  of  Agriculture. 

"Scientific  Research  and  the  Submarine  Detector" 
Illustrated  talk  by  Prof.  Max  Mason,  Research  Special- 
ist of  the  National  Research  Council. 


Friday,  July  23,  1920 

10:00  A.  M.     General  Assembly 

Agiicultural  Hall,  University  of  Wisconsin 

John  Foley,  Chairman,  Forester,  Pennsylvania  Railway 
System. 

"Some  Problems  of  the  Pulp  and  Paper  Industry" 
D.  C.  Everest,  Secretary  and  General  Manager,  Mara- 
thon Paper  JNIills  Company. 

"America's  Place  in  Industrial  Research" 
H.  E.  Howe,  Chairman,  Research  Extension  Division, 
National  Research  Council. 

"Some  Probi,ems  of  the  Lumber  Industry" 
W.  A.  Gilchrist,  Member  of  the  Forestry  Committee, 
National  Lumber  Manufacturers'  Association. 

12:00  NOON      I^UNCHEON 

Gymnasium,  University  of  Wisconsin 


88  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 


ADJOURNMENT 


SPECIAL    ANNOUNCEMENTS 

A  Wood-Losing  Industries  Conference  on  a  National  Forestry 
Policy  will  be  held  on  July  23  at  2 :00  p.  m.  in  Agricultural  Hall,  Uni- 
versity of  Wisconsin.    All  are  invited  to  attend  this  conference. 

A  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  American  Wood 
Preservers'  Association  will  be  held  on  the  afternoon  of  July  22. 

Deans  of  Forestry  and  Engineering  Schools  will  meet  the  morn- 
ing of  July  24  to  consider  a  curriculum  for  Forest  Engineers. 

There  will  be  a  meeting  of  the  Inter-regional  Technical  Commit- 
tee of  the  National  Lumber  Manufacturers'  Association  on  the  morn- 
ing of  July  24. 

The  Venetian  Night  Regatta  of  the  I^niversity  of  Wisconsin  will 
be  held  at  the  foot  of  Park  street  on  Lake  Mendota  on  the  afternoon 
and  evening  of  July  23.     This  is  a  gala  event. 


A  Decennial  Record  89 


FOREST  PRODUCTS  LABORATORY  DECENNIAL 
CELEBRATION 

Introductory  Speech 

H.  F.  Weiss,  Chairman 

Friends  of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory : 

Ten  years  ago  the  state  of  Wisconsin,  through  its  university, 
entered  into  a  cooperative  agreement  with  the  Federal  Government 
through  its  Forest  Service  to  estabhsh  an  institution  for  studying  the 
properties  of  one  of  our  coimtry's  great  natural  resources,  namely, 
timber. 

We  are  assembled  here  today  to  celebrate  the  first  ten  years  of 
work  of  this  institution,  to  take  an  inventory  of  what  has  been  accom- 
plished, and  to  interchange  views  in  reference  to  developing  plans  for 
a  bigger  and  better  future.  I  think  in  these  days  of  higli  taxes,  whicli 
may  go  even  higher,  it  is  well  for  all  of  us  to  become  much  better  ac- 
quainted with  our  Government,  to  know  what  our  Government  is 
doing  for  us. 

The  tendency  of  tlie  time,  I  think,  particularly  on  the  part  of 
Government  and  industry,  is  for  these  two  to  work  too  mucli  apart, 
this  being  due  largely  to  a  lack  of  familiarity  with  each  other.  I  be- 
lieve it  is  particularly  necessary  for  the  Government  and  the  indus- 
tries to  cooperate  more  whole-heartedly  if  our  country  is  to  play  a 
prominent  part  in  the  commerce  of  the  world.  In  the  Forest  Products 
Ija})oratory  tlie  Government  has  estal)lislied  an  institution  which  is 
doing  nuich  direct  good  for  all  of  the  wood-using  industries  and  indi- 
rectly is  doing  good  for  all  of  us,  because  all  of  us  use  wood  in  some 
form  or  other.  On  behalf  of  the  Celebration  Committee  I  want  to 
tliank  each  and  everyone  of  you  for  coming  here  and  for  the  splendid 
and  loyal  sup})ort  wliich  you  have  given.  Witliout  your  support  this 
celebration  could  not  have  been  held. 

It  now  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  present  the  man  m  ho  stands  at 
the  head  of  the  great  commonwealth  of  Wisconsin,  which  has  done  so 
much  to  make  this  work  in  studying  forest  products  a  successful  real- 
ity— Governor  Pliilip]). 


90  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 


"LEGISLATIVE    MEASURES    FOR   FOREST 
CONSERVATION" 

Emanuel  L.  Philipp,  Governor  of  Wisconsin 

Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen : 

In  belialf  of  the  state  I  Avant  to  bid  you  welcome,  particularly 
those  of  you  who  have  come  from  other  states  and  from  other  sections 
of  this  state  to  this  meeting.  It  is  an  important  meeting  in  many  ways 
and  one  which  will  result,  I  am  sure,  in  some  good.  I  welcome  you 
to  this  great  university,  the  capital,  and  our  state  in  general;  and  I 
hope  that  when  you  leave  here  the  j^eople  and  the  surroundings  that 
you  have  been  in  will  leave  a  good  and  lasting  impression  upon  you. 

To  me  has  been  assigned  the  subject  of  "Legislative  Measures  for 
Forest  Conservation".  Before  I  attempt  to  speak  upon  that  subject, 
however,  I  am  going  to  review  briefly  what  I  believe  to  be  the  waste 
of  forest  materials  during  the  nineteenth  century.  I  do  this  because 
I  was  reared  in  the  state  of  Wisconsin ;  I  knew  something  of  the  timber 
supply  of  earlier  days;  I  have  been  a  lumberman,  and  I  am  going  to 
speak  to  you  from  tlie  lumberman's  standpoint,  not  only  of  the  waste 
in  Wisconsin,  but  of  the  waste  that  we  have  seen  in  other  states,  par- 
ticularly in  the  South,  and  the  new  conditions  and  the  better  under- 
standing that  the  people  no  whave  of  timber  values  since  the^^  began 
to  see  it  disappear.  I  think  that  would  better  illustrate  the  necessity 
of  legislation  for  timber  conservation  than  mere  legislative  discussion 
of  the  subject. 

The  state  of  Wisconsin,  as  you  all  know,  had  a  great  timl^er 
supply.  I  think  back  to  the  sixties  when  men  went  to  tlie  nortliern 
pineries,  bought  forty  acres  of  land,  and  cut  around  that  forty  acres 
for  three  or  four  years.  That  was  a  common  custom.  There  was  so 
much  timber  in  northern  Wisconsin  that  it  was  the  general  belief 
among  our  citizens  that  the  supply  was  inexhaustible.  To  that  sup- 
ply was  added  the  then  only  partially-known  supply  of  northern  Min- 
nesota and  the  great  supply  in  the  state  of  Michigan.  There  was  so 
much  timber  to  be  had  and  lumber  was  necessarily  so  cheap  that  only 
the  very  best  qualities  could  be  used  and  sold  for  a  very  common  and 


A  Decennial  Recokd  91 

ordinary  purpose.  I  recall  the  time  out  here  on  the  Wisconsin  river, 
where  I  lived  as  a  small  boy,  when  1x6x16  fencing  had  to  be  free  of 
knots.  A  farmer  would  not  accept  a  fence  board,  a  cork  pine  fence 
board,  that  had  a  knot  in  it;  bridge  plank  had  to  be  practically  clear; 
and  so  it  was  with  all  the  lumber  that  m  as  used  at  that  time.  You  of 
younger  years  who  have  proba})ly  had  something  to  do  with  the  wreck- 
ing of  old  houses  have  learned  that  the  "piece-stuff",  so  called  among 
lumbermen,  used  in  those  days  was  practically  clear  material.  Xow, 
every  lumberman  knows  that  when  you  can  sell  only  clear  lumber 
there  is  a  tremendous  waste  that  must  be  left  either  at  the  sawmill  or 
in  the  forest. 

I  want  to  say  at  the  outset,  without  any  tliought  of  criticising 
nature,  that  nature  woidd  have  been  a  great  conservator  of  forest 
products  if  she  had  permitted  trees  to  grow  square  rather  than  round, 
})ecause  the  fact  that  the  log  had  to  l)e  square  was  one  of  the  reasons 
for  great  M'aste  in  those  early  days.  There  was  no  thought  of  making 
ami;hing  of  slabs,  and  the  slab  burners  of  the  country  have  ])een  a 
great  enemy  of  conservation.  I  do  not  know,  nor  does  anyone  know, 
how  many  billions,  aye,  countless  billions,  of  good  material  have  gone 
up  in  the  form  of  heat  and  smoke  througli  the  slab  burner,  a  perfectly 
innocent  apparatus,  so  far  as  that  is  concerned.  I  attribute  the  loss, 
not  to  the  apparatus  itself,  but  to  the  market  conditions.  That  part 
of  the  log  was  biu-ned  because  tliere  was  no  market  for  it,  and  the  lum- 
berman was  compelled  to  make  whatever  the  people  would  buy. 

Xow.  the  waste  has  gone  on  not  only  in  pine  and  softwoods  but 
in  tlie  liardwoods  as  well.  I  had  some  experience  in  the  soutli  as  a 
lumberman  in  the  manufacture  of  hardwood,  and  I  am  going  to  give 
you  a  brief  review  of  Avhat  I  saw  tliere  and  of  what  is  going  on  not 
only  now,  but  as  far  back  as  the  nineties.  Prior  to  the  entry  of  the 
sawmill  in  the  southern  forests,  there  had  ])een  a  system  of  timber 
destruction  going  on  in  the  South,  particularly  of  the  very  choicest 
white  oak,  that  I  tliought  was  a  reflection  upon  this  Government. 

I^arge  crews  of  men  in  these  southern  forests  were  in  the  business 
of  making  what  is  known  as  pipe  staves.  The  staves  were  60  inches 
long  and  from  4  to  6  inches  wide,  and  could  be  made  only  of  the  very 
best  quality  of  white  oak  that  had  a  perfectly  straight  grain.  AVhen- 
ever  they  found  a  tree  with  a  winding  grain  they  had  to  leave  it,  be- 
cause thev  could  not  use  a  crooked  stick.    The  system  was  this :    Thev 


92  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

made  arrangements  with  the  owner,  paying,  as  a  rule,  $2.00  per  tree, 
to  cut  any  tree  in  the  forest  that  was  over  30  inches  in  diameter — I  may 
say  any  white  oak  tree.  They  cut  it,  and  cut  off  tlie  first  bolt.  If  it 
did  not  split  perfectly  straight,  they  went  away  and  left  the  tree  to  rot 
in  the  forest.  By  that  system  no  doubt  billions  of  feet  of  splendid 
white  oak  were  left  to  waste  in  the  woods.  Every  sawmill  today  util- 
izes the  tree  up  to  the  point  where  the  large  limbs  appear,  or  as  far 
into  the  top  as  you  can  possibly  use  it  to  make  a  board  of  any  kind. 
Now,  they  took  out  of  the  forests  of  the  South  the  most  beautiful,  the 
best,  clear  white  oak,  which  today  would  be  worth  countless  millions 
of  dollars,  and  which  they  sold  for  $2.00  a  tree.  I  don't  know  what 
one  would  have  to  pay  today  if  one  went  out  to  buy  it. 

Gum  as  far  back  as  1900  had  practically  no  value.  I  started  a 
sawmill  in  the  Yazoo  Delta  in  1892.  I  sawed  enough  so-called  red 
gum  to  build  our  plant  and  our  tramways,  and  I  sawed  possibly 
100,000  feet  more  than  we  actually  needed.  I  though  I  could  sell  it. 
I  could  not  give  it  away.  Finally  I  sold  it  to  the  planters  for  $1.00  a 
load  to  get  it  out  of  the  yard.  The  same  may  be  said  of  white  ash. 
There  was  a  splendid  growth  of  what  was  commonly  known  as  cane 
ash.  It  was  slaughtered  for  one  purpose  or  another  and  was  sold  or 
practically  given  away.  It  was  used  largely  for  mechanical  purposes 
and  would  ]}e  a  valuable  timber  if  we  had  it  today. 

The  history  of  hickory  is  rather  interesting  to  the  lumberman. 
I  remember  when  southern  hickory  with  the  wide,  broad,  redheart,  or 
what  we  lumbermen  used  to  call  shellbark  hickory,  had  no  value  at  all. 
Everj^body  wanted  what  was  called  second  growtli  hickory  from 
Indiana  and  Ohio.  About  1900,  people's  notions  changed  in  that  re- 
gard, because  the  supply  of  hickory  was  about  exhausted.  They  be- 
gan to  saw  and  use  shellbark  hickory;  and  about  this  time  I  imagine 
the  market  was  glad  to  take  even  that  kind  of  hickory. 

The  poplar  tree  had  the  same  history.  As  long  as  poplar  was 
available  you  could  not  sell  cottonwood  at  any  price.  I  recall  when 
so-called  boxboards  sold  for  $12  per  thousand  f.  o.  b.  Memphis. 
Standing  cottonwood  was  worth  60  cents  a  thousand.  The  supply  is 
exhausted.  Cottonwood  has  gone,  and  now  they  have  come  to  gum; 
and  it  is  truly  unfortunate  that  so  many  countless  billion  feet  of  gum, 
that  beautiful,  splendid  tree,  have  gone  to  waste  before  we  began  to 
appreciate  its  value.     The  planters  of  the  South  destroyed  it.     They 


A  Decennial  Record  .  93 

i^irdled  it,  left  it  standing  for  a  year  or  two,  and  then  set  it  on  fire. 
It  was  in  their  way.  The  timbernien  went  hy,  fortunately,  where  the 
wood  was  still  standing.  The  gum  tree  that  was  neglected  back  in 
the  nineties  is  now  being  put  to  practical  use  and  has  direct  commer- 
cial value.  That  was  due  to  the  fact  that  so  much  timber  of  a  better 
quality  was  available  during  those  years,  and  at  a  cheaper  price,  that 
the  people  refused  to  use  the  poorer  qualities  of  timber  at  any  price 
Avhatever. 

It  is  unfortunate  for  the  country  and  unfortunate  for  the  timber 
supply  of  the  country  that  there  was  not  some  control,  even  back  in  the 
sixties  and  seventies  when  the  great  timber  supply  was  here;  that 
there  was  not  some  supervision  that  compelled  the  use  of  what  we  at 
that  time  regarded  as  the  class  of  timljcr  that  had  no  commercial 
^-alue  for  purposes  to  which  it  could  be  put  and  save  the  high-grade 
timber — the  timber  that  we  need  so  much  today — for  the  future.  But 
somehow  our  forefathers  did  not  foresee  it.  We  will  not  blame  them 
for  it.  It  is  not  a  nice  tiling  to  speak  ill  of  those  who  went  before  us. 
We  do  not  mean  it  that  way,  but  we  can  express  regret  that  no  form 
of  intelligent  supervision  M^as  undertaken  at  that  time.  I  am  sure 
that  many  billions  of  dollars'  worth  of  beautiful  timber  that  was 
slaughtered  for  nothing  might  have  been  saved  for  the  benefit  of 
future  generations. 

We  have  reached  tlie  point  now  where  we  appreciate  that.  I 
believe  that  all  thinking  men  appreciate  the  fact  that  the  question  of 
a  timl)er  supply  for  the  future  has  resolved  itself  into  a  serious  propo- 
sition. It  is  true  that  we  are  using  now  what  we  left  in  years  gone  by. 
AV^e  are  using  now  even  the  despised  hemlock  that  you  could  not  give 
away  in  the  early  days.  Xobody  Avould  look  at  it.  It  was  not  good 
))uilding  material  in  the  ])ast.  It  may  ])e  the  best  we  have  now,  but, 
compared  with  what  we  used  to  have,  it  is  not  good ;  nevertheless,  we 
have  to  use  it.  That  is  becoming  exhausted,  however,  little  by  little, 
and  in  the  course  of  time  the  liemlock  will  })e  in  the  same  situation 
that  the  cork  pine  was  in,  a  magnificent  supply  when  we  started,  but 
completely  exhausted.  Now,  what  shall  we  use  as  a  substitute  for 
hemlock?  I  do  not  know.  We  shall  have  to  find  some  ornery  tree 
that  we  would  not  use  in  the  past  and  do  not  care  for  now,  but  it  will 
answer  the  purpose  and  will  look  better  wlien  ^ve  need  it. 


9-i  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

How  much  more  could  be  said  upon  the  question  of  the  timber 
that  has  disappeared.  Let  us  consider  wahiut,  if  you  please,  for  a 
while.  There  was  a  time,  as  most  of  you  know,  several  older  people 
tell  us  and  younger  people  have  read  it,  that  they  built  rail  fences  in 
Indiana  and  Ohio  of  walnut.  Now  they  are  digging  out  the  stumps 
of  what  was  left,  veneering  it  for  covering  for  pianos  and  beautifid 
furniture.  The  walnut  log  is  about  as  scarce  as  a  gold  mine  now. 
There  is  very  little  left  indeed.  There  is  a  small  supply  left  in  Okla- 
homa that  is  so  far  away  from  transportation  that  one  could  not 
afford  to  handle  it.  White  oak  is  becoming  very  scarce.  I  had  in  my 
day  a  wide  experience  in  the  manufacture  of  white  oak,  and  I  felt 
that  I  was  quite  conversant  with  the  supply  throughout  the  United 
States.  I  made  a  study  of  it  at  that  time.  A  man  might  offer  mo 
any  price  today  that  he  chooses  in  asking  me  to  furnish  a  sawmill 
where  I  could  supply  him  with,  say  100,000,000  feet  of  white  oak  in 
the  next  ten  years;  I  should  have  to  tell  him  frankly,  I  would  not 
know  where  to  go.  By  white  oak  I  mean  the  kind  that  can  be  used 
for  finish,  the  kind  that  we  used  to  regard  as  merchantable  white  oak 
during  the  days  when  we  actually  had  a  supply. 

Xow  there  enters  into  this  question  the  tie  supply  for  railroads. 
There  is  still  quite  a  lot  of  white  oak  available  along  the  Ohio  river, 
some  in  the  mountains  of  Tennessee,  some  in  the  state  of  Mississippi ; 
and  as  you  go  on  through  the  Soutli  you  will  find  a  little  patch  of 
white  oak  here  and  there  that  the  planter  has  refused  to  cut  down 
because  of  some  sentiment  connected  with  it  or  because  he  wanted  to 
keep  it  for  ornamental  purposes.  You  will  find  in  Arkansas  little 
patches  and  stands  of  timber  that  the  lumberman  has  gone  through 
which  he  left  because  the  trees  could  not  be  used  for  ties  and  merchant- 
able timber.  Vast  quantities  of  ties  in  this  country  are  being  made 
of  hemlock  and  other  softwoods,  and  the  railroads  are  getting  along 
with  what  years  ago  they  thought  they  could  not  use.  The  hemlock 
is  going  and  so  are  the  other  woods  that  they  are  using,  and  finally 
some  other  material  must  be  substituted. 

But  to  get  at  what  I  was  asked  to  speak  about.  What  are  we 
going  to  do  to  better  conserve  our  forests,  our  timber  supply;  and 
what  kind  of  legislation  should  be  enacted  to  do  that?  The  people 
of  this  country  are  not  agreed  upon  this  subject.  In  fact,  it  is  one  of 
oin-  peculiarities  that  we  are  never  quite  agreed  upon  any  subject. 


A  Decexxial  Record  95 

and  there  was  never  greater  evidence  of  that  than  now.  However, 
this  state  has  had  some  experience  in  reforesting.  We  have  attempted, 
and  we  have  made  an  honest  attempt,  to  rephuit  some  of  oiu-  cut-over 
timberlands.  Now,  I  have  this  to  say  about  it.  As  a  state  pohcy  it  is 
not  a  possible  thing  today. 

The  cost  of  the  land,  the  cost  of  planting,  the  cost  of  the  care  that 
the  plant  needs,  the  taxes  that  the  state  loses  provided  it  reserves  this 
land  for  forestry  purposes,  make  the  price,  if  we  compute  it  up  to  the 
time  tliat  the  trees  might  have  become  merchantable,  so  high  as  to 
make  it  an  impracticable  thing.  Xor  is  it,  in  my  judgment,  a  state 
duty.  Let  us  assume  that  the  state  of  Wisconsin  would  plant  in  the 
northern  part  of  our  state  a  million  acres  of  young  pine.  I  do  not 
know  what  it  would  cost  to  do  it,  nor  does  anyone  else  know.  The 
best  we  could  do  is  to  make  an  estimate  which  would  be  liable  to  be 
wrong,  but  we  would  have  to  wait  at  least  50  years  before  we  could  get 
any  merchantable  tim])er.  Xow.  when  that  timber  comes  into  the 
market  it  is  not  for  the  state  of  Wisconsin  alone.  If  it  were,  it  would 
not  be  a  supply  for  the  country,  and  what  we  need  is  a  supply  for  the 
whole  nation.  So,  then,  those  who^  agitate  that  the  state  ought  to 
undertake  reforestation  would  do  it  upon  the  basis  that  it  is  a  state 
duty  merely  ])ecause  we  at  one  time  had  a  forest,  and  that  these  states 
that  at  one  time  had  forests  shoidd  now  undertake  this  great  business 
proposition,  this  great  speculative  investment,  in  order  that  the  whole 
country  might  have  a  timber  supply.  That  does  not  appeal  to  me. 
It  is  not  a  state  duty,  it  is  a  national  duty.  The  national  government 
should  recognize  it  promptlv  and  take  hold  of  the  future  supply  in 
an  efficient  manner.  The  timber  supply  of  the  futiu-e,  the  one  which 
is  produced,  shoukl  ])e  the  supply  of  the  entire  country,  and  whatever 
it  costs  should  be  the  expenditure  of  all  of  the  people.  There  are 
many  states  in  the  Union  that  have  never  had  any  forests.  Why 
sliould  they  come  in  on  a  timber  supply  that  costs  them  nothing? 
Xo  private  citizen,  I  am  sure,  would  like  to  invest  his  money  in  an 
enterprise  tliat  coidd  not  possibly,  under  the  most  favorable  circum- 
stances, give  him  any  returns  in  less  than  50  years.  If  we  go  into 
national  production  of  linrdwoods.  why,  we  have  to  wait  perhaps  as 
much  as  100  years. 

In  my  experience  as  a  lum])erman  I  cut  an  oak  tree  in  Missis- 
sippi that  was  7G  inches  in  diameter,  52  feet  to  the  first  limb.     It  had 


96  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

352  rings,  and  if  we  assume  that  each  ring  represents  a  year's  growth, 
and  no  one  has  been  wilhng  to  say  that  it  represents  any  less  than  one 
year,  then  the  minimum  age  of  that  tree  was  352  years.  That  would 
have  been  a  long  time  investment.  So  it  would  be  with  the  hardwoods 
we  plant ;  and  it  is  not  for  the  state  of  Wisconsin  alone  to  wait,  but 
the  nation  should  wait.  It  can  afford  to  because  it  is  for  the  general 
good. 

Now,  I  would  recommend  to  Congress,  if  I  were  to  recommend 
an}d:hing  and  they  were  willing  to  listen,  that  they  provide  for  the 
purpose  millions  of  acres  of  land,  not  merely  cut-over  lands,  not 
merely  land  that  produces  perhaps  scrubby  timber,  whatever  kind  it 
is,  but  some  good  agricultural  land  with  it  that  will  produce  the  hard- 
woods. We  all  know,  w^ho  have  had  experience  in  the  forest,  that  the 
oak  and  ash  and  the  other  hardwood  timbers  that  we  must  have  for 
mechanical  purposes  are  not  going  to  grow  on  a  sand  heap.  They 
need  good  soil.  The  nation  must  sacrifice  some  good  agricultural 
soil  if  it  proposes  to  be  a  successful  timber  raiser.  The  government 
should  provide  the  land  and  set  it  aside  for  that  particular  purpose. 
It  should  firmly  stand  against  the  demands  of  the  agriculturist  and 
say  to  the  people  that  this  land  must  be  used  for  tliis  particular  pur- 
pose, that  it  is  just  as  important  to  raise  this  crop  as  any  other  crop. 
It  should  be  the  rule  in  the  future  that  whenever  a  tree  is  cut  down 
a  tree  should  be  planted  in  its  place,  and  that  another  tree  be  planted 
w^herever  there  is  room  to  produce  one.  And  then  we  must  look  after 
the  crop  of  trees.  We  must  protect  it  against  destruction  by  fire, 
against  trespassers,  etc. 

Unless  we  go  into  the  problem  in  an  intelhgent  and  practical  way, 
of  course,  the  whole  project  will  be  a  failure.  So  then,  those  of  us 
who  are  interested  in  the  reproduction  of  the  forest,  and  who  appre- 
ciate that  we  must  begin  it  now,  ought  to  do  our  work  not  in  the  States, 
because  I  think  it  is  useless,  but  go  to  the  halls  of  Congress  and  im- 
press Congress  with  the  importance  of  this  work. 

The  lumbermen  of  this  country,  perhaps,  have  the  best  conception 
of  the  value  of  timber  and  its  fast  disappearance.  As  an  organization 
interested  in  replacing  what  they  have  cut  down,  interested  in  putting 
back  the  trees  they  have  taken  to  the  mill  and  sawed  into  lumber,  they 
should  go  to  Congress  and  impress  Congress  with  the  importance  of 
the  subject,  in  order  to  get  the  necessary  appropriation  and  the  nee- 


A  Decexnial  Recokd  97 

essaiy  legislation  to  go  into  this  question  of  reproducing  our  forests 
in  an  intelligent  way.  Unless  Me  do  that  we  shall  soon  be  out  of 
timber. 

Talk  about  reforesting  the  arid  lands  of  the  West  I  Now,  fellow 
citizens,  I  do  not  know  all  about  that,  but  it  does  seem  to  me  that  a 
section  of  the  country  or  a  land  that  never  produced  anything  more 
than  a  little  scrub  sugar  pine  will  never  i^roduce  anything  else.  If  the 
country  must  wait  for  that  kind  of  timber  culture,  I  am  afraid  we  will 
find  ourselves  very  much  out  of  lumber  in  the  future.  That  type  of 
land  which  does  not  produce  an\i:hing  left  to  itself,  where  natin-e 
has  not  planted  the  seed  and  produced  it,  that  is  not  going  to  do  any- 
thing under  cultivation.  It  has  no  moisture,  and  there  is  nothing  in 
the  soil  that  will  make  it  grow.  It  is  so  in  our  own  state.  We  have 
sections  here  in  Wisconsin  that  never  raised  good  timber.  There  is 
nothing  substantial  in  the  soil  to  support  the  tree.  It  raises  scrub 
stuff,  scrub  pine,  Jack  pine,  and  other  pines  of  that  variety.  You 
must  wait  50  years  for  that.  So  we  must  make  up  oin-  minds  that  we 
must  set  aside  soil  that  has  substance  enough  in  it  to  support  a  tree; 
otherwise  we  cannot  have  it. 

I  want  to  say  in  conclusion  that  I  fully  approve  and  have  been 
in  great  sympathy  witli  the  work  of  tlie  Forest  Products  Laboratory. 
Its  business  has  been  to  find  new  uses  for  timber  that  heretofore  have 
not  been  considered  satisfactory  for  any  particular  use.  It  has  ren- 
dered a  great  service  in  that  respect.  It  has  also  found  many  Avays  to 
use  what  was  heretofore  regarded  as  absolute  waste  around  and  about 
the  sawmill.  It  was  high  time  that  somebody  devoted  some  time  to 
that,  and  in  that  respect  whatever  they  have  accomplished  has  been 
of  real  use. 

We  must  conserve,  if  you  please,  everything  there  is  in  a  tree 
that  can  be  used.  You  cannot  throw  away  a  six  incli  slab;  you  have 
got  to  make  some  use  of  it.  They  say  of  the  packer  that  he  makes  use 
of  every  part  of  the  hog  excepting  the  squeal.  We  must  make  use  of 
every  part  of  the  tree  excepting  tlie  noise  it  makes  wlien  it  falls.  There 
must  be  a  real  spirit  of  conservation  produced  among  our  people; 
they  shoidd  be  able  and  willing  to  use  everAi:hing  tliat  is  usable.  The 
timber  of  today  ought  to  be  cut  and  used  with  reference  to  the  use  that 
it  is  to  be  put  to.  We  should  under  no  circumstances  be  permitted  to 
use  a  good  pine  board,  for  instance,  for  a  meat  box  that  renders  serv- 


98  The  Forest  Products  LaboRxVtory 

ice  but  once  and  then  goes  into  the  furnuce.  That  should  no  longer 
be  permitted.  Whether  we  can  do  that,  whether  we  can  regulate  our 
lumber  supply  to  that  extent,  I  can  not  say,  but  it  m  ould  be  a  right 
step  towards  conservation.  You  know  what  we  really  need  some- 
times is  a  king;  we  need  a  lumber  king  anyway,  a  man  who  could  tell 
the  people  to  do  with  what  they  have  and  compel  them  to  do  it.  If  we 
had  that  privilege  we  could  conserve  what  we  have. 

I  thank  you  for  your  time  and  I  trust  you  will  have  a  pleasant 
visit. 

llcniarlxs  hy  the  Chairman,  Mr.  H.  F.  Weiss,  FoJlcncing 
Governor  Philipp's  Speech 

I  venture  to  say  that  you  gentlemen  who  are  from  our  sister 
states  wish  you  could  have  a  G  overnor  who  understands  the  forestry 
program  and  problems  as  well  as  our  Governor.  That  is  just  the 
way  we  do  things  in  Wisconsin.  (Applause.)  Governor  Philipp,  I 
thank  you  for  your  splendid  talk. 

In  connection  with  every  business  organization  there  are  two  words 
used  which  I  have  seldom,  if  ever,  seen  applied  to  an  educational  in- 
stitution. They  are  "quality"  and  "service".  You  gentlemen  who  are 
engaged  in  business  know  full  well  to  what  I  refer.  The  hours  that 
you  have  spent  and  are  spending  in  improving  the  quality  of  yoiu* 
product  and  the  splendid  service  which  your  company  renders  are 
things  which  you  are  interested  in.  If  these  terms  were  to  be  applied 
to  an  educational  institution,  I  know  of  none  which  lay  better  claims 
to  them  than  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  The  high  quality  of  the 
University's  m  ork  is  reflected  not  only  in  the  faculty  and  its  teachers, 
but  in  the  great  student  body  which  it  sends  out  every  year.  The  high 
ideals  of  the  University  are  not  locked  up  in  the  text  books  nor  in  the 
class  rooms,  but  in  this  State  they  reach  out  to  the  shop,  to  the  factory, 
and  to  the  legislature. 

I  think  one  of  the  biggest  surprises  of  my  life  was  when  I  first 
came  to  Wisconsin  from  my  old  home  in  Xew  Jersey  and  saw  farmers 
of  fifty  or  more  years  of  age  walking  down  the  streets  of  Madison 
with  a  text  book  under  their  arms,  studying  agriculture.  This  variety 
of  farmer  was  totally  unknown  to  me,  and  was  not  existent  in  the 
range  bounded  by  the  State  of  New  Jersey.     Through  my  years  of 


A  Decexxial  Record  99 

living  here  it  has  })een  very  evident  to  me  why  the  Wisconsin  farmer 
is  able  to  make  his  farm  pay  while  my  old  farmer  friends  in  New 
Jersey  are  still  paying  for  the  mortgage  on  their  farms. 

I  think  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory  is  particularly  fortunate 
in  being  identified  with  such  an  institution  as  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin, because  it  furnishes  an  inspiring  example  of  not  only  how  to 
gain  knowledge,  but,  of  ^vhat  is  of  equally  great  importance,  how  to 
aj^ply  that  knowledge. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  present  to  you  the  man  who  stands 
at  the  head  of  this  great  seat  of  learning — President  Birge. 


A  Decennial  Record  101 

TRAXSLATIXCx    KXOWI.KDGE    INTO    POAVER 

E.  A.  Birf/c,  President  of  the  Vniversitii  of  Wiseousiu 

Mr.  Weiss  and  ^lenibers  of  this  Convention : 

I  suppose  that  I  have  been  asked  to  speak  here  in  two  capacities. 
In  tlie  first  pLace,  I  address  you  as  a  representative  of  the  University, 
whose  guests  you  are  in  some  sense  today,  since  you  are  meeting  with 
us  in  the  University  College  of  Agriculture.  We  meet  to  celebrate 
the  completion  of  the  first  ten  years  of  the  life  of  an  institution  which 
was  estabhshed  by  the  government  of  the  United  States  in  coopera- 
tion with  the  State  and  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  It  is  an  insti- 
tution to  whose  prosperity  and  work  tliis  State  has  continued  to  make 
contributions,  small,  indeed  almost  negligible,  in  comparison  to  the 
total  budget  of  the  institution,  negligible  in  comparison  to  that  con- 
tribution of  the  United  States  government.  Nevertheless,  they  have 
been  contributions  which  carried  with  them  the  hearty  good  will  of  the 
State  and  of  tlie  University.  And  we  hope  that  we  have  also  contrib- 
uted something  of  the  spiritual  aid  and  fellowship  MJiich  a  university 
can  give  to  an  institution  of  research.  We,  ourselves,  have  received 
much  from  the  presence  of  the  laboratory  with  us,  and  we  hope  that 
we  have  been  able,  in  our  turn,  to  give  something  to  it.  So  I  welcome 
you,  as  representing  an  institution  of  the  type  which  ought  to  gather 
about  universities,  carrying  on  work  of  a  kind  which  is  represented 
within  the  university  as  well  as  in  its  associated  institutions.  I  wel- 
come you  witli  especial  warmth  as  you  are  present  here  to  celebrate 
a  decade  of  distinguished  success  in  services  and  investigations  so 
fundamental  to  the  advance  of  the  science  and  art  of  forestry. 

In  the  second  ])lace  I  am  here  to  speak  on  the  subject  assigned  to 
me  by  ]Mr.  Weiss  and  ^Ir.  Winslow — Trauslatinc/  Knoxcledge  Into 
Power.  You  have  just  had  a  most  vivid  sketch  of  tlie  history  of  the 
lumber  resources  of  the  country  and  of  their  ])resent  situation  from 
Governor  Philipp,  mIio  speaks  to  you  not  only  from  the  point  of  view 
of  a  statesman,  but  also  from  the  point  of  view  of  one  who  has  spent 
years  in  the  industry  that  you  represent.  You  will  hear,  after  I  have 
talked  to  you,  a  vivid  presentation  of  the  Forest  Products  Laborator}^ 


102  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

itself  and  its  specific  work  from  its  director,  iNIr.  AVinslow.  So,  if  I 
interpret  rightly  the  subject  assigned  to  me,  I  am  expected  to  sand- 
Avich.  as  it  were,  ])etween  tliese  two  vivid  and  interesting  stories  a  little 
of  what  might  perhaps  be  called  "highbrow  stuff",  a  little  of  that  sort 
of  talk  w^hich  is  supposed  to  belong  to  the  traditional  university. 

When  Governor  Philipp  was  telling  us  the  story  of  lumber,  he 
spoke  of  the  indift'erence  of  the  last  generation  to  the  situation  wdth 
which  we  are  now  confronted.  It  is  easy  for  us  now  to  see  that  our 
parents  w^ere  blind  to  conditions  which  the  future  was  sure  to  bring. 
I  do  not  believe  that  we  should  criticize  them  too  severely  for  this 
blindness,  for  I  suppose  that  our  descendants,  fifty  or  a  hundred  years 
hence,  will  look  back  to  us  and  will  w^onder  at  our  blindness  just  as 
w^e  wonder  at  the  ignorance  of  our  fore-fathers.  However  blind  they 
may  have  been,  they  w^ere  not  without  excuse,  for  the  conditions  under 
which  they  lived  were  ^vholly  new  in  the  history  of  the  world.  Xo  pre- 
ceding century  ever  saw  a  growth  of  population  in  the  least  compara- 
ble with  that  of  the  19th  century  in  Western  Europe,  and  especially 
in  oiu"  own  country.  And  still  more,  no  preceding  century  saw  that 
rapid  increase  of  drafts  on  natural  resources  which  was  characteristic 
of  the  19th  century,  and  especially  of  its  later  years.  If,  therefore, 
our  fathers  did  not  foresee  the  future,  it  was  because  the  story  of  the 
past  by  which  alone  they  could  conjecture  the  conditions  of  the  future, 
did  not  enable  them  to  foresee  them ;  and  we  ought,  therefore,  not  to 
blame  them  for  ignorance.  We,  however,  are  in  a  totally  different 
position,  and  if  w^e  do  not  foresee  and  provide  for  the  future  it  will  not 
be  because  of  ignorance,  but  because  of  indifference  and  slothfulness. 

In  our  use  of  forest  products  Ave  have  lieen  drawing  on  the  balance 
of  resources  which  has  accumulated  during  the  remote  past.  We  can 
now  see  very  plainly  that  in  no  long  time  this  balance  will  be  exhausted, 
and  that  if  we  draw  a  check  on  nature's  l)ank,  it  will  be  returned  to  us 
promptly  marked  "No  funds".  The  western  world  has  never  been  in 
this  situation  ])efore.  It  is  a  wholly  new  thing  that  a  great  peoj^le  like 
ours  should  be  face  to  face  wdth  the  situation  that  it  must  depend  for 
its  supply  of  wood  upon  the  annual  growth.  It  is  a  new^  thing  that  a 
people  should  be  placed  in  a  position  where  the  annual  growth  of  tim- 
ber wall  be  the  substantial  limit  of  the  amount  which  that  people 
can  use. 


A  DecexxixVL  Record  103 

This  situation  is  not  confined  to  the  forest  products.  In  all  of 
those  resources  which  are  produced  by  the  earth  the  same  situation  is 
arising  or  has  already  come  to  pass.  We  can  not  easily  increase  the 
area  of  j^roductive  land  or  of  utilizable  water.  We  must  make  the 
annual  production  of  land  and  water  suffice  for  our  needs. 

As  this  situation  begins  to  become  manifest,  we  take  various 
measures  in  order  to  reduce  the  depletion  of  our  l)alance  in  nature's 
bank;  in  order  also  to  increase  the  annual  production.  We  put  up 
restrictions,  both  legal  and  moral,  upon  the  use  of  the  products  of 
nature.  We  go  still  farther  and  endeavor  to  increase  the  annual 
income  of  these  productions.  We  set  up  fish  hatcheries ;  we  produce 
improved  varieties  of  seed  so  that  the  net  increase  of  the  land  and 
water  may  be  made  larger  and  that  there  may  be  a  greater  amount 
in  this  annual  contribution  of  the  earth  to  our  su^^port;  we  try  to 
utilize  waste — or  what  we  once  regarded  as  waste;  we  handle  the 
making  of  coke  so  that  what  were  formerly  waste  products  are  util- 
ized ;  we  overliaul  the  culm  bank  of  the  coal  mine  and  we  rework  the 
tailings  of  other  mines.  In  all  these  ways  and  in  many  more  we 
attempt  to  check  the  depletion  of  our  natural  resources. 

In  the  use  of  forest  products  we  increase  our  balance,  as  the  Gov- 
ernor has  told  us,  by  employing  kinds  and  varieties  and  sizes  of  wood 
which  only  a  few  years  ago  were  regarded  as  entirely  worthless.  All 
of  these  metliods  are  necessary  and  right,  and  they  all  help  to  prolong 
the  period  diu-ing  which  the  lialance  in  natiu-e's  bank  may  be  available 
to  us.  They  aid  also  in  increasing  the  annual  supply  of  the  products 
which  nature  is  putting  forth  for  our  use;  but,  as  the  Governor's  story 
showed  us,  these  means  are  inadequate— inadequate  in  every  direction 
and  particularly  inadequate  in  securing  a  permanent  supply  of  forest 
products. 

This  raises  the  particular  point  which  I  was  asked  to  talk  about 
this  morning.  I  am  asked  to  call  your  attention  to  another  great  asset, 
another  great  resource  of  a  civilized  people,  which  is  being  used 
slightly  and  very  imperfectly,  which  is  continually  accumulating, 
which  is  capable  of  very  great  use;  out  of  which  will  come  great  saving 
and  great  addition  to  natural  resources  and  a  correspondingly  great 
prolongation  and  advancement  of  the  prosperity  of  the  people.  I 
am  speaking  of  the  stock  of  scientific  knowledge  M-hich  has  accumu- 
lated diu'ing,  let  us  say,  the  past  half  or  three-quarters  of  a  century. 


104  The  Fokest  Products  Laboratory 

Look  })ack  at  the  condition  of  science  in  that  earher  period  to 
which  the  Governor  referred  in  his  talk  about  the  forests.     We  cele- 
brated here  in  Wisconsin  a  few  weeks  ago  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
the  Wisconsin  Academy  of  Sciences,  founded  in  1870.     We  talked 
about  the  men  who  were  the  fathers  of  that  Academy.     There  was 
Lapham,  a  surveyor  of  JNIilwaukee;  there  was  Dr.  Hoy.  a  ])usy  phy- 
sician, in  wide  practice  at  Racine.    This  was  the  type  of  man  who  first 
brought  science  to  Wisconsin.     Fifty  years  ago,  science  ^vas  mainly 
in  the  hands  of  people  busily  engaged  in  other  matters;  that  was  true 
all  over  this  country.    Science  was  a  side  issue  for  people  whose  work 
and  thought  were  chiefly  given  to  other  things.     Since  that  time  the 
situation  has  changed  completely.     In  those  days  there  were  single 
individuals  working  at  the  exploration  of  nature,  many  of  them  doing 
this  as  a  task  for  leisure  hours:  today  we  have  an  army  of  people  who 
are  devoting  all  their  time  to  the  exploration  of  nature  and  are  deriv- 
ing their  living  from  this  work.     Thus  the  knowledge  hich  these  men 
and  women  are  bringing  together,  the  knowledge  which  they  have 
been  bringing  together  during  the  past  generation,  has  been  accumu- 
lating at  a  rate  which  one  may  almost  call  tremendous.      We  look 
with  surprise  at  the  rapid  increase  of  population  during  the  past  half 
century ;  we  look  with  even  greater  surprise  at  the  enormous  increase 
of  wealth  during  the  same  period.    But  neither  of  these  facts  is  in  any 
way  comparable  to  the  increase  of  scientific  knowledge  during  the 
same  years.     Here,  then,  is  an  enormous  asset  which  has  been  grow- 
ing rapidly,  increasing  indeed  at  a  geometric  rate,  and  of  which  by  far 
the  greater  portion  has  accumulated  during  the  memory  of  men  here 
present.    It  is  an  asset  whose  increase  is  still  going  on  at  a  rate  which 
is  constantly  accelerated.     To  this  asset  there  are  contributing,  not 
merely  a  few  men,  not  merely  a  few  great  men,  but  the  labors  of  lum- 
dreds  of  thousands  of  men,  working  each  in  his  own  field  of  explora- 
tion. 

This,  then,  is  a  new  situation  in  the  history  of  the  world.  It  has 
made  necessary  the  development  of  a  new  type  of  profession,  of  a  new 
type  of  institution.  It  has  made  necessary  men  and  institutions  who 
are  to  mediate  between  knowledge  in  this  sense  of  the  word  and  prac- 
tical life,  between  scientific  knowledge  and  aff'airs.  This  situation  has 
brought  about  the  establishment  of  institutions  of  various  types  and 
in  various  directions.     Such  are  agricultural  colleges  and  experiment 


.1  Decennial  Record  105 


stations;  such  are  institutions  like  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Stand- 
ards ;  and  such,  also,  is  this  institution  in  whose  honor  we  meet  today — 
the  Forest  Products  Laboratory. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  these  institutions  have  developed  to  greater 
size  and  in  greater  number  in  those  relations  which  have  to  do  with 
the  soil  and  its  products.  Here  we  find  the  largest  number  of  men 
whose  business  it  is  to  take  the  knowledge  which  has  been  accumulated 
by  the  explorer  of  nature  and  to  bring  it  into  direct  relation  with 
affairs  and  with  human  life. 

Let  me  take  an  illustration  from  the  activities  of  the  department 
of  agriculture  and  outside  of  the  forestry  service.  Consider  for  a 
moment  the  student  of  soils.  His  work  is  dependent  upon  the  knowl- 
edge which  lias  been  brouglit  together  in  past  years  in  the  department 
of  chemistry,  both  organic  and  inorganic;  it  depends  also  on  knowl- 
edge which  is  embodied  in  the  sciences  of  bacteriology,  of  botany,  of 
zoology;  and  in  addition  to  these  specific  sciences  he  needs  the  princi- 
ples wliich  have  been  wrought  out  in  physics  and  in  many  other  de- 
jDartments.  The  definite  work  of  tlie  student  of  soils  is  the  application 
of  knowledge  and  of  principles  which  have  been  wrouglit  out  else- 
where.   These  he  takes  and  applies  to  the  conditions  found  in  the  soil. 

There  are  two  points  to  be  noted  in  regard  to  this  work.  In  the 
first  place  scientific  knowledge  can  not  apply  itself,  nor  can  it  be 
directly  carried  over  from  laboratory  to  field.  For  the  conditions 
under  which  this  knowledge  has  been  wrought  out  are  widely  different 
from  those  in  which  it  is  applied.  The  student  in  the  laboratory  makes 
his  own  conditions  of  experiment,  and  it  is  only  as  lie  is  able  to  define 
and  to  limit  the  conditions  of  nature  that  he  is  able  to  secure  the 
results  for  which  he  is  seeking.  But  the  student  of  soils  must  carry 
this  knowledge  over  into  the  world  of  affairs,  into  the  complex  situa- 
tion which  nature  offers  to  us.  Knowledge  must  be  set  to  work  under 
nature  and  therefore  under  conditions  totally  different  from  those  of 
the  laboratory.  The  material  conditions  of  the  soil  must  be  consid- 
ered, the  intelligence  of  those  who  are  working  it,  and  especially  the 
relation  of  cost  and  of  profit  to  the  processes  which  are  set  up.  All  of 
these  innumerable  items  which  the  scientific  explorer  neglects,  and 
ought  to  neglect,  must  be  carefully  considered  by  those  who  are  apply- 
ing knowledge,  since  they  furnish  the  conditions  under  which  knowl- 


106  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

edge  must  be  set  to  work,  if  it  is  to  produce  results  that  are  useful  to 
the  people. 

So  it  is  with  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory.  It  is  fouuded  to 
bridge  over  the  gap  which  lies  between  experiment  and  manufacturer ; 
it  must  bridge  the  gap  between  laboratory  and  factory;  in  a  word, 
it  must  bridge  over  the  great  gap  which  lies  between  knowledge  and 
life,  between  knowledge  and  affairs.  And  this  is  not  all;  for  it  is  not 
a  simple  matter  to  set  knowledge  at  work  under  the  conditions  of  na- 
ture. The  representative  of  applied  science  does  not  merely  take 
knowledge  wrought  out  by  others  and  put  it  to  work  under  new  con- 
ditions. The  knowledge  which  is  present  as  science  is  not  stated  in 
the  form  in  which  it  can  be  used,  since  the  statement  does  not  take  into 
account  the  complex  conditions  under  which  it  is  to  be  set  to  work. 
The  representative  of  applied  science,  therefore,  does  not  merely  apph/ 
knowledge  to  new  conditions  but  he  translates  that  knowledge  into 
those  new  forms  in  which  alone  it  can  be  applied. 

Thus  the  subject  assigned  to  me  is  justified.  Tlie  function  of  an 
institution  like  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory  is  primarily  the  trans- 
lation of  knowledge  into  new  terms  and  into  such  forms  that  it  can  be 
set  to  practical  work  in  affairs.  Such  a  translation  involves  not  merely 
a  knowledge  of  what  other  people  have  found  out,  but  involves  also 
scientific  study  and  research  itself.  It  involves,  therefore,  not  merely 
an  application  of  old  knowledge  but  the  development  of  a  new  sort 
of  knowledge;  the  development  of  knowledge  which  will  work  under 
conditions  which  are  set  not  only  by  the  tangled  web  of  nature  within 
whicli  it  is  working,  but  also  by  the  commercial  and  social  conditions 
of  the  men  on  whom  the  practical  success  of  applied  science  must 
depend. 

Thus,  as  you  see,  out  of  the  enormous  increase  of  knowledge  on 
the  one  side,  out  of  the  need  for  its  application  on  the  other  side,  there 
have  arisen  professions  like  those  which  are  represented  here  today, 
and  finally  institutions  like  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory,  in  which 
these  professions  find  a  home  and  an  opportunity  for  service. 

I  will  not  trouble  you  with  many  illustrations.  I^et  me  take  one 
or  two  from  the  work  of  the  laboratory.  It  is  necessary  to  find  new 
types  of  wood  and  new  forms  of  wood  if  airplanes  are  to  be  quickly 
and  economically  constructed.  Hence  there  arises  a  need  for  water- 
proof glue.     It  would  seem  at  first  that  such  a  need  could  be  easily 


A  DkcexxixVL  Rfx'okd  107 

satisfied.  We  have  only  to  go  into  tlie  market  and  purchase  what  is 
offered.  But  as  a  matter  of  fact  if  such  an  adhesive  is  to  be  developed 
it  will  only  be  after  scientific  study  and  research  which  will  bring  in 
the  accumulated  knowledge  from  half  a  dozen  sciences,  and  the  men 
who  make  that  research  will  need  high  scientific  qualifications  on  their 
own  part.  Only  thus  can  a  produce  be  discovered  which  is  worthy  to 
put  ])efore  the  people  and  a  product  on  which  the  people  of  the  coun- 
try can  depend. 

Or  take  another  problem  which  arises  not  only  in  connection  with 
the  manufacture  of  airplanes  but  in  a  hundred  directions  involving  the 
utilization  of  wood — the  matter  of  kiln-drying.  It  seems  at  first  a 
very  easy  thing  to  put  wood  into  a  kiln  and  dry  it  artificially.  Yet  you 
know  better  than  I  that  the  man  who  goes  to  work  on  that  principle 
will  rather  spoil  wood  than  produce  good  lumber.  It  is  only  as  the 
complex  conditions  and  ])roblems  involved  in  kiln-drying  are  appre- 
ciated and  thoroughly  mastered  that  success  is  reached.  Only  as 
there  are  scientifically  worked  out  processes  by  which  the  different 
varieties  of  wood  may  be  treated,  each  according  to  its  own  kind  and 
condition,  can  success  be  secured,  even  in  a  process  which  looks  at  first 
so  simple.  And  if  in  such  matters  as  these,  which  seem  to  be  simple, 
scientific  study  and  scientific  organization  are  necessary,  much  more 
is  the  same  necessity  present  in  the  far  more  complex  problems  which 
are  involved  in  the  production  of  paper  pulp,  in  the  prevention  of  de- 
cay of  timber,  in  the  other  infinitely  varied  uses  to  which  timber  is  put. 

I  need  not  give  you  more  illustrations,  for  these  are  enough  to 
illustrate  the  principle  which  underlies  the  subject  assigned  to  me — 
the  need  of  institutions  like  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory,  which 
shall  concern  tliemselves  with  the  translation  of  knowledge  into  power 
and  so  shall  make  available  for  the  lienefit  of  the  public  along  specific 
hues  the  enormously  valuable  asset  whicli  the  M'orld  possesses  in  the 
accumulated  treasures  of  science. 

This  necessity  the  government  is  trying  to  meet  along  one  line 
through  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory,  an  institution  which  medi- 
ates between  knowledge  and  affairs.  I  congratulate  the  laboratory 
on  the  way  it  lias  ])erformed  this  duty  din-ing  the  ])ast  ten  years;  I 
congratulate  it  for  the  work  wliich  it  lias  done  itself;  I  congratulate 
it  as  a  part  of  the  great  working  force  of  the  De])artment  of  Agricul- 
ture; I  congratulate  it  especially  on  tlie  ])art  Avliicli  it  lias  taken  here 


108  The  Fokest  Products  Laboratory 

in  U^isconsin  for  our  benefit  as  well  as  for  the  benefit  of  other  states, 
on  the  part  which  it  has  taken  in  the  work  which  our  University  on  its 
side  is  trying  to  do,  not  only  for  its  own  state,  but  as  a  part  of  the 
national  system  of  education. 

But  I  can  not  confine  what  I  have  to  say  to  a  review  of  the  past 
ten  years.  Let  us  look  to  the  future,  first  looking  back  to  an  earlier 
day.  Look  back,  if  you  please,  to  187G.  when  the  L^nited  States  cele- 
brated its  first  centennial.  How  did  we  look  at  the  forest  resources 
of  AYisconsin  at  that  time?  Xow  look  forward  to  the  next  centennial 
in  1976  and  tell  me  what  will  be  the  situation  then  and  what  the  neces- 
sity for  institutions  like  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory?  We  need 
not  indeed  look  backward  and  forward  so  far.  Look  back  less  than 
twenty-five  years  to  the  state  semi-centennial  in  1898  and  look  forward 
to  the  centennial  of  the  state.  How  have  our  forests  disappeared  in 
less  than  a  quarter  of  a  century;  what  will  be  their  condition  less  than 
thirty  years  from  noM%  in  1948,  in  a  ^^ear  when  the  large  majority  of 
those  who  are  here  this  morning  will  take  part  in  the  centennial  cele- 
bration of  the  state?  Upon  what  will  the  prosperity  of  this  state  de- 
pend at  a  period  so  short  a  time  ahead  of  us  as  thirty  years?  Will  it 
not  be  dependent  upon  the  greatly  enlarged  work  and  success  of  insti- 
tutions— of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory  and  of  other  institutions 
akin  to  it;  and  upon  the  intelligent  and  vigorous  utilization,  by  the 
people,  of  the  results  that  they  work  out?  The  scientific  knowledge 
^vhich  has  accumulated  in  the  past,  and  which  will  accumulate  with 
even  greater  rapidity  during  the  coming  years,  must  be  translated 
into  terms  of  power  by  men  who  make  it  their  profession  so  to  treat 
knowledge  and  by  institutions  which  are  established  for  the  pin-pose 
of  setting  knowledge  to  work  in  affairs.  This  they  must  not  do  in  any 
rule-of-thumb  way,  not  by  means  of  prescriptive  rules ;  but  they  must 
convert  knowledge  into  the  living  and  growing  contribution  of  the 
human  mind  to  the  prosperity  of  the  human  race ;  they  must  translate 
the  knowledge  gained  l)y  the  explorer  of  natin-e  into  the  power  of 
applied  science. 

Rcmarlxs  by  Mr.  Weiss  FoUoxcing  President  Birge's  Speech 

I  hope  very  much  that  those  of  you  who  have  come  from  out  of 
the  city  may  find  it  possible  to  stay  in  Madison  long  enough  to  look 


A  Decennial  Recokd  109 


also  into  the  work  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin  and  to  see  for  your- 
selves the  way  in  which  the  university  has  heen  translating  its  knowl- 
edge into  i^ower  along  the  lines  which  President  Birge  has  so  kindly 
pointed  out  to  us  in  his  very  interesting  talk.  I  do  not  helieve  his 
talk  was  at  all  too  "higlibrow"  for  the  friends  of  the  laboratory,  as 
I  am  personally  acquainted  with  many  of  them  and  know  tliey  can 
grasp  it  and  digest  it.    I  thank  you,  President  Birge. 

We  now  come  to  what  I  might  call  the  third  layer  of  this  sand- 
wich, as  President  Birge  has  pointed  it  out,  and  it  has  been  somewhat 
of  a  ])roblem  for  me  to  know  Avhat  to  say  in  the  way  of  presenting  him. 
He  does  not  need  any  introduction.  I  have  not  been  able  to  talk 
about  his  work  or  his  institution  because  he  is  going  to  do  that;  and 
I  cannot  talk  alxnit  liim  personally  because  I  know  liim  too  well  for 
that,  and,  furtliermore,  it  would  be  rather  unfair  for  me  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  his  natural  modesty.  So,  after  thinking  it  over,  I  have 
decided  I  would  follow  the  advice  I  once  saw  written  on  the  black- 
board of  our  laboratory.  It  said.  "When  in  deep  Mater  keep  your 
mouth  shut." 

I  am  now  going  to  state  that  we  will  have  the  pleasure  of  listening 
to  the  man  who  lias  worked  so  loyally  and  ably  to  make  the  Forest 
Products  La])oratory  the  institution  you  will  see  today,  and,  of  course, 
that  refers  to  none  otiier  than  C.  P.  Winslow,  best  known  to  all  his 
personal  friends  as  "Cap". 


A  Decennial  Record  111 

THE    FOREST    PRODUCTS    LABORATORY 

Carlilc  P.  IVinsIozc,  Director,  Forest  Products  Lahoratorij 

]Mr.  Chairman,  Toadies  and  Gentlemen: 

It  affords  me  a  great  deal  of  pleasure — more  than  I  can  really 
well  express  to  you- — to  extend  to  you  a  most  cordial  and  hearty  wel- 
come to  this  commemoration  of  the  completion  of  the  first  ten-year 
j)eriod  of  service  of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory.  I  wish  particu- 
larly to  ex])ress  my  appreciation  of  the  work  and  efforts  of  the  Decen- 
nial Committee  which  has  planned  and  arranged  for  this  event,  to  those 
friends  and  supporters  of  the  laboratory  who  by  their  generous  con- 
tributions have  made  it  ])ossible,  and  to  all  of  you  here  who  are  thus 
lending  your  support  and  encom-agement  to  the  organization. 

I  am  ])articularly  appreciative  of  the  untiring  and  effective 
efforts  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  ^Ir.  Howard  F.  Weiss, 
known  to  all  of  you  in  pre\'ious  days  wliile  Director  of  the  Laboratory, 
and  I  can  only  regret  that  ]Mr.  ^IcGarvey  Cline,  the  first  Director  of 
the  organization,  has  found  it  impossible  so  to  arrange  his  plans  that 
he  could  also  be  here.  It  was  my  good  fortune  to  work  first  under  the 
stimulating  guidance  of  these  men  when  the  Forest  Products  Labora- 
tory was  but  a  thought,  and  it  is  due  to  their  imagination,  foresight, 
and  persistence  that  the  laboratory  was  conceived,  organized  and  put 
upon  an  effective  working  basis. 

Rudyard  Kipling  once  wrote: 

"Twelve  himdred  million  men  are  spread 
About  this  Earth,  and  I  and  you 
Wonder,  when  you  and  I  are  dead, 
What  will  those  luckless  millions  do?" 

If  we  change  the  closing  lines  of  this  stanza  to  read: 

"and  I  and  you, 
AVonder.  M'hen  all  the  trees  are  gone, 
What  will  those  luckless  millions  do?" 


112  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

the  kindly  sarcasm  of  tlie  Kipling  humor  disapx^ears,  and  we  are  con- 
fronted with  a  question  of  vast  importance  for  our  consideration  and 
action. 

The  importance  of  the  broad  problem  would  possibly  be  more 
sharply  recognized  if  we  view  the  situation  from  a  somewhat  less  altru- 
istic and  international  standpoint  and  consider  only  the  TOO  million 
people  within  the  borders  of  the  United  States.  Consider  for  a 
moment  the  extent  to  which  forest  products  enter  into  the  comforts, 
conveniences  and  pleasures  of  many,  if  not  all,  of  this  vast  multitude 
of  peoi^le.  You  rise  in  the  morning  from  your  wooden  bed  and  walk 
about  on  the  wooden  floor  of  your  wooden  home;  you  bathe  with  soap 
probably  containing  or  produced  in  part  with  a  product  from  wood, 
annoint  your  face  with  a  lotion  containing  alcohol  very  likelv  pro- 
duced from  wood  paste,  put  on  your  hose  manufactin-ed  from  M-ood 
libre,  step  into  your  leather  slioes  requiring  tannin  from  wood  for 
their  manufacture,  and  then  proceed  to  breakfast  where  you  sit  upon 
a  wooden  chair,  in  front  of  a  wooden  table  and  read  the  daily  news 
from  a  paper  made  of  wood  pulp,  printed  with  ink  manufactured  from 
a  forest  product,  and  received  over  telegraph  lines  supported  by 
wooden  poles.  If  reasonably  prosperous,  you  now  journey  to  your 
office  in  an  automobile  with  wooden  spokes  in  the  wheels,  probal)ly 
travel  at  least  part  of  the  way  over  a  M^ooden  pavement  and  finally 
settle  yourself  in  your  office  surrounded  by  wooden  trimmings  and 
furniture  and  dig  into  the  daily  letters  and  reports  which  are  again 
dependent  upon  the  supply  of  wood  pulp  paper.  If,  by  chance,  you 
have  occasion  to  travel  to  Madison  to  attend  the  celebration  of  the 
Forest  Products  Laboratory  you  board  a  wooden  railroad  car  (or  at 
least  one  made  to  appear  like  wood)  and  travel  over  tracks  supported 
by  wooden  cross-ties.  The  food  which  you  eat,  the  clothes  which  you 
wear,  the  materials  and  supplies  necessary  for  the  comforts  of  your 
home  and  the  conduct  of  your  business,  all  are  received  in  containers, 
some  of  wood  and  some  of  fibre  but  practically  all  of  forest  products. 

These  accustomed  comforts  and  privileges  of  existence  are  de- 
pendent upon  a  very  wide  variety  of  industries,  dependent  to  greater 
or  less  degree  upon  forest  products.  These  supply  useful  and  neces- 
sary occupation  to  some  million  or  more  people.  They  include  twenty 
per  cent  of  the  276,000  manufacturing  plants  in  the  country. 


A  Decexxial  Record  113 

The  future  of  these  varied  and  tremendous  industries  is  depend- 
ent upon  a  supply  of  raw  material — their  ultimate  and  greatest  suc- 
cess dependent  upon  the  wise  selection  and  most  efficient  handling  of 
this  raw  material.  This  means  that  authentic  knowledge  of  the  prop- 
erties of  the  material  and  how  to  most  efficiently  utilize  them  is,  in  the 
long  run,  essential  to  their  continuation  on  a  sound  economic  basis. 

These  considerations  inevitably  lead  us  to  the  forests,  and  here 
again  we  are  confronted  with  a  demand  and  necessity  for  knowledge 
of  the  properties  and  possible  uses  and  utilization  of  the  many  avail- 
able species.  Without  it,  it  is  impossible  to  know  which  trees  to  cut 
or  which  to  grow,  what  is  their  value,  how  best  to  utilize  them,  or  what 
to  do  with  the  enormous  quantity  of  waste  material. 

It  was  such  broad  conceptions  as  these  that  led  to  the  development 
of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratorv  which  was  established  in  1910  by 
the  Forest  Service,  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  in 
cooperation  with  the  Universit}-  of  Wisconsin.  Federal  appropria- 
tions maintain  the  organization  and  provide  necessary  supplies  and 
equipment.  The  University  provides  the  buildings  and  light,  heat 
and  power,  at  least  within  certain  limitations.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  be 
able  here  to  express  to  the  President,  Board  of  Regents  and  members 
of  the  University  Faculty  my  appreciation  of  the  whole-hearted  and 
effective  cooperation  which  has  been  so  generouslv  extended  to  the 
laboratory  througliout  its  existence.  This  was  of  particualar  value 
and  importance  during  the  war  emergency  period,  when  the  expan- 
sions in  our  organization  made  it  necessary  to  utilize  in  part  or  in  whole 
some  eight  additional  University  buildings.  I  wish  to  make  particular 
acknowledgment  to  the  College  of  Agrieidture,  whose  buildings  were 
not  only  largely  used  by  our  organization  during  tlie  war  but  several 
of  which  are  still  in  use  for  this  purpose. 

The  Forest  Products  Laboratory  is  called  an  institution  of  indus- 
trial research.  Its  object  is  to  acquire,  disseminate  and  apply  useful 
knowledge  of  tlie  properties,  uses,  and  methods  of  utilization  of  all 
forest  products.  This  is  a  broad  field  of  almost  unlimited  scope — the 
surface  lias,  as  yet,  been  but  partially  scratched. 

It  has  been  said  that  research  is  primarily  a  matter  of  men  "who 
work  upon  the  frontiers  of  knowledge,  conquering  new  domains".  Re- 
search may  be  done — as  a  matter  of  fact  is  done — individually,  sepa- 
rately, disconnectedly,  and  progress  of  some  sort  will,  undoubtedly, 


114  The  Forest  Pkoducts  Laboratory 

result.  But  to  organize,  correlate,  co-ordinate  and  direct  such  effort 
must,  in  the  long  run,  bring  greater  progress,  in  less  time,  with  less 
exi^ense,  and  greater  saving. 

This  has  been  the  guiding  thought  in  the  development  of  the 
Forest  Products  Laboratory — the  systematic  acquiring  of  useful 
knowledge  that  may  be  transformed  into  the  power  that  builds  up 
American  industries.  With  the  exception  of  a  similar  and  much 
smaller  institution  in  Canada,  it  is  the  only  institution  of  its  sort  in 
existence.  However,  the  importance  of  such  work  is  becoming  gen- 
erally and,  in  fact,  internationally  recognized.  The  Australian  gov- 
ernment now  has  under  way  the  development  of  a  forest  products 
laboratory  and  similar  developments  are  under  way  by  the  British 
government  in  India,  and,  to  a  very  limited  extent,  in  South  Africa. 
Former  members  of  our  staff  have,  within  the  year,  left  to  take  up  such 
work  in  these  countries.  Norway  also  has  similar  plans  under  devel- 
opment although  they  have  not,  as  yet,  progressed  as  far  as  in  Aus- 
tralia and  India. 

AVork  of  this  character  requires  the  services  of  highly  trained 
specialists  along  widely  varying  lines.  The  forester's  knowledge  of 
tree  gro^\i;h  is  necessary  to  the  engineer  studying  the  mechanical  prop- 
erties of  various  trees  in  order  that  he  may  wisely  select  for  study  those 
species  which  are  or  may  l)ecome  available  for  use;  the  engineer's 
knowledge  is  necessary  to  the  physicist  engaged  in  problems  of  drying 
wood  in  order  that  the  effect  of  such  treatment  on  the  mechanical  prop- 
erties may  not  be  overlooked ;  the  pathologist's  knowledge  is  necessary 
)>oth  to  the  engineer  and  physicist  in  order  to  determine  the  effect  of 
decay  on  the  properties  under  investigation  and  equally  is  his  knowl- 
edge necessary  to  the  chemist  pursuing  his  work  on  the  development 
of  durable  water-resistant  glues,  on  preservatives  to  prevent  decay, 
and  on  prevention  of  decay  in  pulp  wood  and  wood  pulp.  The  knowl- 
edge of  the  dendrologist  is  necessary  to  all  in  order  that  the  identity 
of  the  species  under  study  may  be  determined  witli  certainty  and  in 
order  that  peculiarities  of  their  structural  anatomy  may  not  be  over- 
looked. 

An  organization  of  such  men  provided  with  proper  equipment, 
materials  and  facilities  for  Avork  cannot,  in  the  long  run,  fail  to  secure 
results  of  value.  It  is  such  an  organization  that  we  have  attempted 
to  develop  here.     I  shall  make  no  attempt,  at  this  time,  to  describe  it 


A  Dkckxxiaj,  Kecokd  115 

in  further  detail.  You  will,  this  afternoon,  get  a  first  hand  compre- 
liensive  idea  of  its  present  seo]je.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  prior  to  1917 
it  composed  a  personnel  of  approximately  80,  expanding  during  the 
next  18  months  to  500  and  at  present  including  slightly  less  than  half 
that  number.  The  aggregate  expenditures  over  the  entire  ten-year 
period  are  in  the  neighl)orhood  of  two  million  dollars  a  yearly  average 
of  about  $200,000.  This  is  but  an  insignificant  sum  when  the  breadth 
of  the  field  and  magnitude  of  the  problems  are  considered.  The  re- 
sults of  much  of  the  work  cannot,  of  course,  be  (pioted  in  dollars  and 
cents.  Certain  otlier  results,  however,  enable  the  use  of  such  a  yard 
measure,  and  a  few  of  them  will,  I  am  sure,  serve  to  convince  you  that 
organized  industrial  research  is  a  ])aying  proposition. 

For  example:  The  Ijuilding  and  construction  trade  uses  annu- 
ally ai)})r()ximately  five  and  one-half  billion  feet  for  structural  pur- 
poses where  strength  is  important.  This  material  is  worth  roughly 
$200,000,000.  Investigations  at  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory  on 
the  mechanical  i)roperties  of  American  woods  have  given  knowledge 
permitting  a  twenty  per  cent  increase  in  allowable  working  stresses 
in  many  structural  timbers.  If  the  results  arc  actually  ap])lied  to  only 
ten  ])er  cent  of  such  material,  the  annual  saving  will  equal  $4,000,000. 

The  claims  for  loss  and  damage  to  commodities  in  shipment  actu- 
ally ])aid  by  the  railroads  amount  to  $100,000,000  annually.  Proper 
nailing.  develo])ed  and  recommended  ])y  the  Forest  Products  Labora- 
tory, and  a(l()])tc(l  ])y  tlie  National  Association  of  Box  Manufactiu'- 
ers,  and  through  them  by  many  companies  and  shi])pers.  if  conserva- 
tively estimated  to  save  but  one  ])er  cent  of  tliis  loss,  means  a  total 
saving  of  $1 ,000.000  a  year. 

AVork  on  water-resistant  glues  and  plywood  for  airplanes  carried 
on  at  the  laboratory  during  the  war  emergency  alone  saved  the  War 
Department  $().()00.000  in  their  procurement  of  such  material  during 
a  twelve  months  ])eriod. 

Investigations  carried  on  at  tlie  laboratory  during  tlie  ])ast  year 
regarding  the  use  of  liuU  fiber  and  second  cut  cotton  linters  for  pulp 
and  paper  have  made  available  200,000  tons  for  this  purpose  and  have 
resulted  in  the  establishment  of  large  plants  with  potential  production 
of  300  tons  per  day  and  an  annual  sales  value  of  $15,000,000. 


116  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

Improved  methods  of  turpentining  de\'eloped  by  the  Forest 
Service  resulted  in  increased  yields  and  less  in  jury  to  timber  with  net 
savings  aggregating  $4,000,000  per  year. 

These  few  examples  alone  show  combined  annual  increase  in 
production  and  decrease  in  waste  aggregating  $30,000,000.  They 
should  serve  to  crystallize  for  you  tlie  value  and  im]:)ortance  of  indus- 
trial research.  Results,  of  coiu'se.  cannot  be  obtained  over  night. 
Patience  is  required  and  efforts  are  not  always  quickly  crowned  Avitli 
success — but  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  over  any  reasonable  period  of 
years,  economies  resulting  from  organized  research  so  greatly  exceed 
the  expense  involved  that  there  can  be  no  question  of  its  desirability. 

The  lumber  and  wood-using  industries  represent  some  of  the 
greatest  and  most  important  manufacturing  and  industrial  develop- 
ments of  the  country.  Of  the  nation's  industries  they  rank  second  in 
invested  capital,  first  in  labor  employed,  and  second  in  annual  value 
of  products.  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory  is  the  only  institution 
of  organized  research  engaged  upon  the  problems  of  these  industries, 
and  those  problems  yet  imtouched  and  imex]dored  are  many  and  of 
far  reaching  importance.  What,  for  example,  of  the  possibilities 
which  may  result  from  the  de\xlopment  of  permanently  durable  and 
waterproof  glues  or  adhesives  and  their  application  to  the  use  of 
material  too  small  or  of  too  poor  a  grade  for  other  service — what  of 
their  application  to  forest  economics  through  the  increased  value  thus 
given  to  small  second  groA\i:h  material?  Wliat  of  the  sul])Jiite-pulp 
liquor  problem  involving  the  ])ossibility  of  utilizing  the  55  per  cent 
of  the  wood  fed  into  the  pulp  digesters  and  now  lost  in  the  w  aste  sul- 
phite liquors?  What  of  the  problems  of  packing,  boxing,  and  crating 
of  various  materials  and  commodities  for  shipment  and  transporta- 
tion when  conservative  estimates  sliow  a  possible  theoretical  annual 
saving  to  the  country-  of  three  hundred  million  dollars  (  What  of  the 
need  for  improvement  and  the  method  of  treatment  and  handling  of 
piling  and  dock  timbers  in  Avater  infested  with  marine  borers  which 
destroy  the  piling  w^ithin  18  months  after  placement  and  cause  an 
annual  replacement  aggregating  millions  of  dollars  in  the  various 
harbors  of  the  nation?  What  of  the  waning  supply  of  hardwoods  and 
the  need  for  authentic  knoM'ledge  of  the  properties  of  South  American 
and  other  foreign  woods  as  compared  to  those  of  our  own  country  for 
which  they  may  ultimately  be  needed  as  substitutes? 


A  Decexxial  Record  117 

Slight  progress  and  success  applied  to  only  a  small  per  cent  of 
even  the  limited  field  above  suggested,  will  result  in  annual  savings 
greater  than  the  total  expenses  for  the  entire  Forest  Products  Lab- 
oratory for  the  past  ten-year  period.  Such  savings,  of  course,  will 
not  result  only  from  research  within  the  confines  of  the  laboratory; 
but  will  necessitate  the  dissemination  and  application  of  these  results 
in  industrial  service.  Your  help  is  particularly  needed  in  this  phase 
of  the  work. 


NEW  BOXES   FOR  OLD— SOME   WAR  TIME  BOX  WORK  OF  THE  LABORATORY 

Trench  Mortar  Shell  Boxes  4.7  Inch  Shell  Boxes 

U.  S.  Army  Rifles  Box 
Browning  Automatic  Rifles  Box 


A  Decennial  Record  119 

IXTRODl CTORY    SPEECH 

Burr  fV.  Jones,  Toastmaster 

Yoii  had  an  opportunity  today  to  witness  an  exhibition  such  as 
you  would  not  find  any  other  place  on  the  face  of  the  globe.  It  is  true 
that  several  ])eople  have  imitations  of  oiu'  laboratory.  They  have  one 
in  Canada;  they  have  one  in  Australia;  Great  Britain  has  started  two 
or  three  in  far  off  India  and  Africa;  but  none  of  them  can  offer  such 
an  exhibition  or  compare  with  such  an  exhibit  as  you  have  seen  today. 
This  was  the  original  Forest  Products  Laboratory.  For  some  time 
it  was  the  only  one. 

It  had  a  very  modest  beginning — several  gentlemen  worked  here 
in  two  or  three  rooms  out  in  Wingra  Park.  They  corresj^onded  with 
some  others  in  other  parts  of  the  country.  Some  of  the  wise  men  in 
Washington — there  are  always  a  few  wise  men  in  Washington — be- 
came interested,  and  our  Board  of  Regents,  who  were  always  pro- 
gressive, became  interested;  and  it  was  finally  arranged,  as  you  heard 
today,  that  the  Regents  would  erect  a  building  and  that  the  govern- 
ment at  AVashington  would  furnish  the  money  to  maintain  it.  So  the 
work  went  on. 

We  here  in  ^Madison  did  not  hear  very  nuich  about  it  until  we  got 
into  the  Avar,  and  then  we  began  to  hear  a  good  deal.  We  used  to  hear 
that  the  government  had  recognized  its  child  and  appreciated  the 
great  service  M'hich  the  Forests  Products  I>aboratory  could  render. 
They  had  a  comparatively  small  number  of  men  on  the  force,  but  dur- 
ing the  war  they  had  five  or  six  hundred.  Instead  of  one  building 
which  they  had  occupied  they  then  occupied  the  most  of  nine  or  ten, 
and  they  were  aiding  the  government  in  many  ways. 

I  suppose  that  the  human  mind  can  hardly  conceive  of  the  vast 
amount  of  shipping  which  it  was  necessary  for  our  government  to 
begin  to  send  over  the  seas.  I  can  best  illustrate  it  perhaps  by  the 
incident  of  the  boy  M'ho  was  told  by  his  teacher  to  find  out  from  his 
father  what  a  million  dollars  meant.  The  boy  went  to  his  father  and 
asked  him.  The  father  was  rather  amused  and  interested  at  the  pre- 
cocity of  his  boy  and  answered,  not  very  prudently,  "A  million  del- 


120  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

lars!  A  million  dollars  is  a  hell  of  a  lot."  The  boy  gave  his  teacher 
this  valuable  information  in  the  language  of  his  father,  and  the  boy 
got  a  licking. 

Now  this  illustrates  in  a  waj^,  in  somewhat  emphatic  language  it 
describes,  the  vast  amount  of  material  which  our  government  had  to 
send  across  the  seas.  They  came  to  this  laboratory  for  advice.  I  sup- 
pose that  those  who  originated  the  idea  never  dreamed  that  this  insti- 
tution out  here  would  be  aiding  our  great  government,  in  a  war  with 
the  great  nation  of  Germany,  to  send  bej^ond  the  seas  such  articles  as 
munitions,  rifles,  and  all  kinds  of  accessories  of  war.  Yet,  such  was 
the  fact.  At  this  time  we  began  to  hear  about  the  work  of  the  lab- 
oratory. We  began  to  hear,  and  have  heard  ever  since,  that  while  it 
has  been  in  existence,  hundreds  of  men  have  come  here.  Several  hun- 
dred men  from  the  great  industries  have  come  to  take  their  short 
courses  of  instruction.  Such  companies  in  the  United  States  as  the 
General  Electric,  the  Western  Electric,  and  many  others  of  the  great 
corporations  have  sent  their  representatives  here  to  learn  something 
which  would  aid  them  in  carrying  on  their  practical  work.  The  liberal 
representation  of  lumbermen,  those  interested  in  manufactures,  here 
today  illustrates  their  view  of  the  importance  of  this  work. 

I  listened  today  to  Dr.  Birge  and  Governor  Philipp,  and  I  heard 
Mr.  Winslow  talk  a  little  about  the  work  which  had  been  done  here. 
I  talked  a  little  with  him  before,  and  I  talked  with  Mr.  Weiss,  and  it 
seems  to  me  that  they  are  the  two  most  modest  fellows  I  ever  saw. 
Why,  as  Mr.  Winslow  made  his  speech  today,  telling  in  liis  modest, 
quiet  way  of  the  work  of  this  institution,  if  he  had  been  followed  by 
one  of  those  orators  (properly  coached,  and  told  what  ought  to  be 
said),  one  of  the  orators  from  the  Chicago  Convention— the  Repub- 
lican Convention — or  the  San  Francisco  Democratic  Convention,  with 
his  foghorn  voice  and  his  swinging  arms,  I  don't  know  what  we  might 
have  done.  We  might  have  gathered  in  processions  and  wrapped  the 
flag  around  Mr.  Weiss,  Mr.  Winslow,  Governor  Philipp  and  Presi- 
dent Birge,  but  it  has  not  been  the  method  of  the  laboratory  to  indulge 
in  that  kind  of  publicity. 

Now  we  are  going  to  hear  from  a  gentleman  presently  who  knows 
not  only  about  the  work  of  this  institution,  but  about  forestry  in  gen- 
eral. When  I  was  a  lad  living  on  the  old  farm  I  mistrust  that  if  any- 
one said  to  a  group  of  farmers  that  it  would  be  a  good  thing  to  send 


A  Decennial  Record  121 

fellows  to  a  college  to  learn  about  forestry  he  would  have  been  ridi- 
culed. They  would  all  have  felt  that  there  was  no  need  of  sending  a 
man  to  college  to  learn  to  split  rails,  or  cut  saw-logs ;  but  we  have  one 
here  tonight,  a  real  forester,  Avho  has  been  in  college,  and  the  account 
that  I  may  give  of  him  sounds  like  a  fairy  tale — reared  in  California, 
educated  at  the  State  University,  then  at  Yale,  he  first  took  control 
of  forest  matters  in  the  Appalachians,  was  then  called  back  to  the 
Sequoia  forest,  then  to  the  great  forests  of  Montana  and  Idaho,  then 
to  Washington,  and  hke  so  man}'  of  our  other  patriotic  college  men, 
he  was  called  to  France.  First  he  was  called  upon  to  aid  in  recruiting 
twenty  thousand  foresters.  I  imagine  when  Alexander,  Caesar,  and 
Bonaparte  carried  on  their  wars  they  did  not  recruit  foresters,  but  this 
gentleman  who  is  to  talk  tonight  did.  He  went  over  to  France,  and 
there  in  the  forests  of  France  he  ran  sawmills  and  he  ran  the  lumber- 
jacks, and  helped  win  the  war.  He  came  back  and  is  now  connected 
with  the  government  forestry  service,  the  Chief  of  the  Forest  Service. 
I  take  great  pleasure  in  introducing  Colonel  Greeley. 


NOTABLE    DECENNIAL,    FIGURES 

DIRECTOR    C.    P.   WINSLOW.    FORESTER    W.   B.    GREELEY, 

FORMER  DIRECTOR   H.   F.   WEISS 


A  Dkcexxial  Record  123 

FORESTS    AND    XATIOXAI.    PROSPERITY 

WiUiam  B.  Grcclct/,  Forester,  U.  S.  Forest  Service 

This  inorniiig  when  I  entered  the  hotel  and  approaehed  the  gen- 
tleman in  charge  of  the  check  rooms  he  pointed  to  a  group  of  gentlemen 
in  the  lohhy  wearing  this  little  white  ribhon  and  said,  "Be  this  the 
imdertakers'  convention  f  I  said,  "Xo,  sir,  this  is  a  convention  of 
woodusers."  Then,  "Well,  them  undertakers  use  lots  of  wood."  So 
I  think  ^Ir.  Winslow  should  have  capped  the  climax  by  referring  to 
the  wooden  coffin  in  Avhich  most  of  us  hope  to  repose  our  weary  bones 
after  the  game  has  been  played  to  the  last  goal. 

Someone  has  suggested  to  me  that  I  am  supposed  to  make  a  key- 
note speech  tonight.  I  know  that  keynote  speeches  are  popular 
pastime  this  summer,  but  I  want  to  assure  you  that  I  have  no  keynote 
ambitions.  In  fact,  judging  from  the  experience  that  I  have  just  come 
from — I  think  the  very  last  speech  I  made  prior  to  this — I  come  to 
you  in  a  very  humble  frame  of  mind.  I  was  talking  to  a  group  of 
ranchers,  road  builders,  etc.,  out  on  one  of  our  Colorado  forests.  We 
M'ere  talking  about  timber,  the  resources  of  that  region,  and  I  got  up 
})efore  them  with  a  good  deal  of  enthusiasm  and  talked  a])out  what  the 
Forest  Service  was  going  to  do,  what  we  were  going  to  do  with  onr 
timber,  with  our  water  power,  our  grazing  lands,  etc.,  and  really,  I 
suppose  gave  the  impression  that  I  possibly  was  the  sole  owner  and 
dictator  of  tliis  vast  public  domain.  Well,  after  the  ceremonies  were 
over  one  of  the  old-timers,  a  man  who  had  grown  up  in  that  country 
since  early  boyhood,  in  the  audience  approached  me.  The  "my"  and 
"our"  in  my  speech  had  not  set  just  right  on  the  old  man's  system.  He 
said,  "Young  fellow,  your  talk  sounded  to  me  a  little  bit  like  the  time 
when  tlie  devil  took  our  Eord  and  blaster  up  on  high  mountain  and 
showed  liim  all  tlie  domains  of  the  Avorld  and  said  that  all  of  those 
should  ])e  his  if  he  would  cmly  do  what  Mr.  Devil  said,  and  the  durned 
old  coot  did  not  own  a  single  acre  of  it." 

There  is  no  occasion  for  keynote  speeches.  The  things  that  have 
brought  us  together  are  the  simple  fundamental  things  and  the  sort  of 


124  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

things  that  we  should  approach  in  the  hght  of  sober,  every-day,  well- 
known  truth. 

These  are  days  when  the  whole  world  is  being  reconstructed.  The 
stage  is  set  for  a  new  era  in  international  relations  and  industrial  com- 
petition. The  times  make  it  worth  while  to  consider  some  of  the  things 
Avhich  in  the  new  rivalry  of  w^orld  progress  M'ill  make  nations  strong. 
We  hear  much  about  the  oil  fields  of  the  world  and  how  tlie  industrial 
control  of  the  harrassed  old  planet  will  lie  with  the  people  who  control 
the  bulk  of  its  crude  oil.  Yet,  oil  is  but  an  example  of  the  many  raw 
materials  which  modern  civilization  demands.  And  while  keeping  a 
watchful  eye  upon  new  and  undeveloped  sources  of  raw  material, 
surely  we  must  not  overlook  the  resources  which  nature  has  put  in  our 
own  hands. 

Many  of  us  who  served  in  France  were  able  to  see  at  first  hand 
the  conditions  of  life  and  industry  in  a  country  where  population  has 
crowded  close  upon  natural  resources,  w^here  for  the  masses  living  has 
become  close  and  hard,  and,  even  to  maintain  standards  of  comfort  far 
below  what  the  average  American  demands,  a  degree  of  thrift  and  fru- 
gality beyond  our  comprehension  must  be  constantly  employed.  In 
France  wood  is  a  commodity  of  a  totally  different  character  from  what 
it  has  been  in  the  United  States.  Even  with  the  care  and  intelligence 
applied  unremittingly  to  French  forests,  lumber  is  priced  as  an  im- 
jjorted  luxury.  Xo  one  can  become  familiar  with  that  country  without 
appreciating  how  this  fact  handicaps  the  comfort  of  living  and  the 
industrial  opportunities  of  the  French  nation.  The  gleaning  of  the 
forests  for  little  fagots,  the  very  scaffolds  used  in  city  building,  which 
are  made  out  of  small  poles  carefully  lashed  together  and  used  over 
and  over  again,  tell  the  story.  With  all  their  beauty  and  picturesque- 
ness,  the  rural  districts  of  France  often  leave  an  impression  of  decad- 
ence. A  new  structure  of  any  kind  is  a  rare  sight  and  moss-covered 
stone  buildings  of  the  time  of  Jeanne  d'Arc  must  serve  the  French 
farmer  of  today.  Only  a  people  great  in  industry  and  foresight  could, 
under  such  limitations,  have  built  up  M^thin  an  area  less  than  that  of 
our  single  largest  state,  the  great  industrial  nation  that  France  is 
today. 

The  lesson  which  such  things  bring  home  is,  in  a  broad  way,  the 
same  fundamental  truth  which  underlies  many  economic  problems  of 


A  Decennial  Record  125 


the  present  time — not  alone  those  of  America,  but  of  the  whole  world 
as  it  strives  to  get  back  to  normal  industry.  It  is  an  old  and  simple 
axiom :  Aside  from  the  will  to  work  wliich  is  the  foremost  quality  of 
any  strong  nation,  its  economic  and  social  progress  depends  in  the  iong 
run  upon  the  foresight  and  efficiencj^  with  wliich  its  natural  resources 
are  used. 

This  is  simply  an  attempt  to  restate,  crudely  and  partially,  tlie 
conception  of  national  conservation  M'liicli  was  embodied  in  our  pubhc 
thought  and  policies  by  President  Roosevelt  fifteen  years  ago.     It  is 
the  viewpoint  of  the  pubhc  welware  in  the  long  run  Avhich  two  great 
leaders,  President  Roosevelt  and  Gifford  Pinchot,  brought  to  bear 
upon  our  forest  resources,  our  national  M^ater  powers,  and  our  national 
deposits  of  coal  and  oil.     The  Forest  Products  Laboratory  at  Madi- 
son, which  now  completes  its  first  decade,  stands  as  a  visible  and  prac- 
tical expression  of  the  thought  of  these  leaders  in  the  field  of  forest 
conser\-ation.    To  make  the  most  of  our  forest  resources  Mr.  Pinchot 
and  his  associates  foresaw  that  knowledge  of  the  use  of  wood  must 
progress  hand  in  hand  with  the  national  movement  to  assure  a  sufficient 
supply  of  this  essential  raw  material.    Each  had  an  integral  part  in 
forest  conservation.    It  was  not  enough  to  create  National  Forests  in 
wJiich  the  Federal  Government  might  embark  in  tlie  business  of  timber 
production  and  to  assist  the  private  owner  in  keeping  liis  woodlands 
productive.     It  was  equally  necessary  to  build  up  a  practical  science 
of  wood  use, — to  determine  how  to  get  the  right  stick  into  the  right 
place  where  its  strength  or  durabihty  would  count  for  the  most ;  how 
to  make  one  railroad  tie  do  the  work  of  two  or  three,  by  prolong- 
ing its  life  and  service;  how  to  utilize  tlie  enormous  quantities  of  waste 
material  in  our  forests  and  sawmills;  how  to  reduce  manufacturing 
losses  and  better  the  methods  of  employing  wood  in  the  infinite  number 
of  American  industries  which  require  it,  from  the  paper  mill  to  the 
automobile  factory ;  and  what  fresh  supplies  of  wood  could  be  found 
for  this  or  that  industry  as  old  sources  of  raw  material  were  exhausted. 
The  Forest  Products  Faboratory  M-as  built  by  men  who  saw  that  to 
answer  these  questions  and  others  like  them  was  as  necessary  as  to 
stop  forest  fires;  that  the  wood  technician  in  the  factory  must  supple- 
ment the  woodsman  in  the  forest.    And  they  not  only  built  the  Lab- 
oratory as  an  efficient  unit  of  itself;  they  built  it  into  and  made  it  part 
of  one  of  the  most  virile  and  far-sighted  movements  toward  using  nat- 


126  The  Fokest  Pkoducts  Labokatoky 

ural  resources  for  national  efficiency  in  the  long  run  tliat  the  world  has 
ever  witnessed. 

Much  in  the  way  of  i)ractical  forest  conservation  has  been  accom- 
plished by  this  vigorous  and  growing  movement.  One  hundred  and 
fiftj'-five  million  acres  of  Xational  Forests  have  been  established  and 
partially  developed  for  the  maximum  public  service  in  producing  tim- 
ber and  forage  and  protecting  water  sources.  Some  thirty  of  the  states 
have  enlisted  in  the  suppression  of  forest  fires,  and  in  spreading  the 
gospel  of  wise  use  of  timber-growing  land.  Aluch  has  been  done  in 
our  industries  to  prolong  the  life  of  wood  and  utilize  materials  pre- 
viously wasted.  And  yet  we  must  recognize  today  that  forestry  is  still 
just  wdiat  President  Roosevelt  called  it  fifteen  years  ago — one  of  the 
most  important  internal  problems  of  the  United  States.  The  after- 
math of  the  M  ar  has  indeed  brought  home  its  magnitude  and  its  seri- 
ousness much  more  sharply  than  any  previous  event  in  the  history  of 
this  country. 

Consider  for  a  moment  our  situation  today  as  a  people  of  wood 
users.  The  United  States  at  this  moment  is  short  at  least  one  million 
homes.  In  comparison  with  the  need,  new  dwellings  are  being  con- 
structed at  a  snail's  pace  because  of  the  high  cost  of  lumber,  other 
building  materials,  and  of  labor.  From  the  shortage  of  homes  arise 
exorbitant  rents,  crowded  living  conditions,  and  lowered  standards  of 
comfort  and  family  life.  The  average  farm  in  the  United  States  needs 
about  two  thousand  board  feet  of  luml)er  every  year  for  new  buildings 
and  improvements.  Because  the  average  farmer  can  not  o])tain  lum- 
ber at  prices  within  his  reach,  farm  development  is  handicapped  and 
the  efficiency  of  agriculture  suffers.  This  is  a  factor  of  no  slight  im- 
portance in  our  vital  problem  of  food  supply  and  living  costs. 

We  need  six  and  one-quarter  million  cords  of  wood  a  vear  to  make 
our  newspapers,  magazines,  books,  pasteboard  boxes,  and  other  prod- 
ucts manufactured  from  wood  pul]).  We  are  meeting  this  need  at 
present  only  by  importing  a  tliird  of  our  paper  or  paper-making  mate- 
rials from  Canada.  We  recjuire  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
twenty-five  million  railroad  ties  eacli  year  to  kee])  u])  and  extend  our 
railroad  lines,  aside  from  enormous  quantities  of  tim])er  used  in  other 
forms  for  railroad  construction  and  the  ])uilding  of  cars.  We  have  to 
have  at  least  six  ])illion  feet  of  timber  yearly  for  boxes,  crates,  and  bar- 
rels, a  requirement  which  is  steadily  increasing.    In  several  highly  de- 


A  Decennial  Recokd  127 

veloped  agricultural  regions  an  assured  supply  of  containers  for 
shipping  farm  j^roducts  to  market  has  become  a  serious  problem  in 
itself. 

A  group  of  oiu*  important  nianufactin-ers,  the  makers  of  wood 
veneers,  handles,  vehicles,  furnitin-e,  and  agricultural  implements  con- 
sume one  and  one-half  billion  feet  of  timber  yearly.  It  is  upon  this 
group,  perhaps,  that  the  growing  shortage  of  timber  falls  most  heavily, 
since  they  require  largely  high  grade  hardwoods  and  other  timber 
which  the  virgin  forests  of  the  United  States  furnished  so  lavishly, 
but  M-hich  it  is  now  becoming  more  and  more  difficidt  to  find  in  suffi- 
cient quantities. 

All  told,  we  demand  of  our  forests  about  fifty-six  billion  feet  of 
timber  yearly,  aside  from  well  over  one  hundred  million  cords  of  small 
material  for  fuel  and  various  chemical  products.  There  is  nothing 
comparable  to  this  enormous  use  of  wood  in  the  history  of  the  world. 
AVe  are  preeminently  a  wood-using  nation.  It  is  wood  that  has  devel- 
oped our  farm  lands,  that  has  largely  built  and  equipped  our  railroads, 
and  that  supports  many  of  our  most  valuable  and  distinctive  manufac- 
turing industries.  We  use  from  two  to  four  times  as  much  wood — for 
every  member  of  our  population — as  the  most  highly  developed  coun- 
tries of  Euro])e.  Tlie  abundance  and  general  distribution  of  our  native 
forests  have  liad  a  tremendous  part  in  the  domestic  and  industrial  de- 
velopment of  tlie  United  States  and  in  its  commercial  supremacy.  We 
can  not  face  the  future  without  a  so])er  and  intelligent  consideration 
of  that  fact. 

Even  M'ith  the  large  substitutions  of  other  materials  for  lumber, 
the  United  States  Avitli  its  growing  poj)ulation  can  not  greatly  reduce 
its  present  total  use  of  wood  without  serious  injury  to  its  liome  ])uild- 
ing,  its  agriculture  and  its  manufactures.  And  we  must  find  out  how 
to  supply  our  own  needs  largely  from  our  own  resources,  for  it  is  doubt- 
ful if  lumber  imports  can  be  greatly  increased  within  reasonable  prices. 

So  much  do  we  ask  of  our  forests.  How  far  can  our  forests  fill 
this  order? 

The  original  forests  of  tlie  I'nited  States  are  supposed  to  have 
covered  eight  hundred  twenty-two  million  acres.  Over  two-thirds  of 
this  area  has  been  cidled.  cut-over,  or  burnt.  There  are  left  today 
about  four  hundred  sixty-three  million  acres  of  forest  and  cut-over 
land  of  all  sorts,  M-hicli  contains  about  two  thousand  two  hundred  and 


128  The  Forest  Pkoducts  Laboratory 

foui-teen  billion  feet  of  timber  of  merchantable  sizes.  Three-fifths  of 
the  timber  originally  in  the  United  States  is  gone. 

All  told  we  are  taking  about  four  times  the  amount  of  wood  out 
of  our  forests  every  year  which  we  are  growing  in  them.  We  are  cut- 
ting more  of  every  class  of  timber  than  we  are  growing.  We  are  even 
using  up  the  trees  too  small  for  the  sawmill,  but  upon  which  our  future 
lumber  supply  depends,  three  and  one-half  times  as  fast  as  they  are' 
being  produced. 

Of  still  greater  significance  is  the  fact  that  the  timber  left  is  not 
in  the  right  place.  The  crux  of  timber  depletion  is  the  exhaustion,  or 
partial  exhaustion,  of  the  forests  most  available  to  the  great  l)ulk  of 
our  population,  agriculture,  and  manufactures.  One  timber  region 
after  another  in  the  eastern  states  has  been  cut  out.  Less  than  five 
per  cent  of  the  virgin  forests  of  New  England  and  about  twelve  per 
cent  of  her  original  stand  of  timber  are  left.  New  York,  the  leading 
state  in  lumber  production  in  18.50,  now  manufactures  only  thirty 
board  feet  per  capita  yearly,  or  not  more  than  a  tenth  of  the  require- 
ments of  her  own  population  and  industries.  Pennsylvania  was  the 
leading  lumber  manufacturing  state  in  1860.  She  now  cuts  less  than 
the  amount  consumed  in  the  Pittsburg  district  alone. 

The  original  pine  forests  of  the  Lake  States,  estimated  at  350 
billion  feet,  are  now  reduced  to  less  than  eight  billion.  In  1892  the 
sawmills  in  the  region  bordering  the  Great  Lakes  cut  nine  billion  board 
feet  of  lumber  and  largely  supplied  the  softwood  markets  of  tlie  Prai- 
rie and  Central  States  and  eastward  to  New  England.  Today  their 
yearly  cut  is  a  single  billion.  These  four  densely  populated  regions, 
stretching  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Prairies,  which  formerly  were  lum- 
ber exporters  and  still  contain  enormous  areas  of  forest  land,  are  now 
partly  or  largely  dependent  upon  timber  grown  and  manufactured 
elsewhere  and  are  becoming  increasingly  dependent  upon  timber  which 
must  be  shipped  the  width  of  the  continent. 

The  bulk  of  the  building  and  structural  timbers  used  in  the  east- 
ern and  central  states  during  the  last  twenty  years  was  grown  in  the 
pine  forests  of  the  south.  But  the  cut  of  southern  pine  is  now  falling 
off  and  within  another  decade  promises  to  exceed  by  little,  if  at  all,  the 
requirements  of  the  southern  states  themselves.  The  shifting  of  the 
hardwood  industries  has  followed  much  the  same  course.  The  princi- 
pal reserve  of  hardwoods  is  in  the  Southern  Mississippi  Valley  and 


A  Decexxial  Record  129 

even  here  it  is  doubtful  if  the  cut  of  hardwood  lumber  can  be  materially 
increased  for  any  great  length  of  time.  The  scarcity  of  high  grade 
oak,  poplar,  ash,  hickory,  walnut,  and  other  standard  hardwoods  is 
now  confronting  manj^  industries  with  a  difficult  situation. 

One-half  of  the  timber  remaining  in  the  Continental  United 
States  is  in  three  states  bordering  the  Pacific  ocean.  Sixty-one  per 
cent  of  it  lies  west  of  the  Great  Plains.  Since  1894  western  timber  has 
been  filling  gaps  in  the  eastern  and  middle  western  markets.  Within 
the  past  year  it  has  assumed  a  dominating  place  in  the  principal  mark- 
ets of  the  Lake  States  and  has  largely  replaced  southern  pine  at  many 
consuming  points  in  the  Central  States.  It  is  estimated  that  within 
the  next  decade  the  shortage  of  nearer  timber  will  compel  the  Eastern 
and  Central  States  to  increase  their  annual  consumption  of  western 
timber  by  eleven  and  one-half  billion  board  feet. 

The  true  index  of  timber  depletion  is  not  in  the  quantity  that  is 
left  but  its  axjailahilitij .  This  is  shown  partly  in  the  cost  of  trans- 
porting the  average  tliousand  feet  of  lumber  from  the  sawmill  to  the 
user.  Piior  to  1850  when  the  great  bulk  of  our  lumber  was  manufac- 
tured near  the  points  of  use,  the  transportation  cost  averaged  less  than 
$3.00  per  thousand  board  feet.  Today  it  is  probably  $10.00.  In 
another  decade,  at  the  freight  rates  now  prevailing,  it  will  reach  $15.00 
per  thousand  feet.  But  aside  from  rising  freight  costs,  the  exhaustion 
of  nearby  supplies  of  timber  imposes  upon  the  consumer  all  the  disad- 
vantages of  being  dependent  upon  distant  and  restricted  manufactur- 
ing regions.  These  include  congestion  of  transportation,  the  effects  of 
labor  shortages  and  bad  weather  in  limited  regions,  and  a  narrowed 
field  of  competition. 

Xot  only  is  tlie  quantity  of  timber  left  in  the  United  States  being 
used  up  much  more  rapidly  than  wood  is  being  grown ;  the  availability 
of  the  remaining  timber  to  the  average  consumer  is  steadily  decreasing. 
The  situation  which  confronts  us  now  will  be  different  only  in  degree 
if  we  allow  the  western  forests  also  to  be  exhausted  and  are  compelled 
to  import  most  of  our  lumber  from  Siberia  or  South  America. 

Doubtless  the  extreme  conditions  of  the  present  lumber  markets 
will  ])e  relieved  in  no  great  length  of  time  and  more  moderate  prices 
will  prevail.  Tlie  outstanding  fact  remains,  however,  that  lumber  price 
levels  liigher  than  those  existing  before  the  war  must  be  expected  be- 
cause of  the  depletion,  or  approaching  depletion,  of  our  forest  regions 


130  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

east  of  the  Great  Plains.  We  are  fast  losing  the  great  leveler  of  lum- 
ber prices,  the  competition  between  different  forest  regions  available  to 
a  common  market.  The  scarcity  of  forest  products  of  high  quality, 
cut  from  old  growth  timber,  m  ill  not  be  readily  or  quickly  overcome. 
Meantime  forest  depletion  is  going  steadily  on,  unchecked.  It  must 
lead  inevitably  to  rising  price  levels  under  normal  conditions.  It  will 
contribute  to  sudden  and  excessive  increases  in  lumber  prices  in  any 
future  transportation,  labor,  or  other  crisis. 

The  real  cause  of  our  timber  depletion  is  idle  forest  land.  Short- 
ages of  wood  have  not  resulted  primarily  from  the  use  of  our  forests, 
but  from  their  devastation.  The  kernel  of  the  problem  lies  in  the  enor- 
mous areas  of  forest  land  which  are  not  producing  the  timber  crops 
that  they  should.  There  are  326  million  acres  of  cut-over  timber  lands 
bearing  no  saw  timber  in  the  United  States.  Their  condition  ranges 
from  complete  devastation  through  various  stages  of  partial  restock- 
ing or  restocking  with  trees  of  inferior  quality,  to  relatively  limited 
areas  which  are  producing  timber  at  or  near  their  full  capacity.  On 
eighty-one  million  acres  there  is  practically  no  forest  growth.  This 
is  the  result  of  forest  fires  and  of  methods  of  cutting  which  destroy  or 
prevent  new  timber  growth.  There  were  twenty-seven  thousand  re- 
corded forest  fires  in  1919,  burning  a  total  of  eight  and  one-fourth 
million  acres.  During  the  preceding  year,  twenty-five  thousand  fires 
burned  over  ten  and  one-half  million  acres  of  forest  land.  An  addi- 
tional large  acreage  was  burned  each  year,  of  which  no  record  could 
be  obtained. 

The  area  of  idle  or  largely  idle  land  is  being  increased  ])y  from 
three  to  four  million  acres  annually  as  the  cutting  and  burning  of  for- 
ests continue.  The  enormous  area  of  forest  land  in  the  United  States 
not  required  for  any  other  economic  use,  estimated  at  four  hundred 
sixty -three  million  acres,  would  provide  an  ample  supply  of  wood  if  it 
were  kept  productive.  Depletion  has  resulted,  not  from  using  our 
timber  resources,  but  from  failure  to  use  our  timber-growing  land. 

It  is  unthinkable  that  the  United  States  should  be  compelled  to 
steadily  contract  its  use  of  timlier — down  to  the  level  of  civilized  exist- 
ence as  in  other  countries  of  western  Europe.  We  are  not  an  old 
world  nation.  We  still  have  millons  of  acres  of  raw  agricultural  land 
to  be  developed.  We  still  have  millions  of  homes  to  be  built  and  thou- 
sands of  miles  of  T-rails  to  be  laid.     We  are  at  the  threshold  of  the 


A  Decennial  Recokd  131 

greatest  opportunity  to  expand  our  world  trade  in  manufactures  which 
we  have  ever  had.  It  is  unthinkable,  I  say,  that,  in  the  face  of  these 
vast  requirements  and  opportunities,  the  people  of  tlie  United  States 
should  be  content  to  watch  one  of  their  essential  and  readily  renewable 
raw  materials  become  steadily  scarcer  and  less  available;  that  they 
slioidd  acce])t  famine  prices  on  timber  as  a  normal  condition,  with  en- 
forced contractions  in  its  use,  embargoes,  and  governmental  restric- 
tions.   And  such  a  course  is  as  unnecessary  as  it  would  be  disastrous. 

We  have  an  ample  area  of  forest-growing  land,  over  and  above 
any  probable  demands  for  farm  crops,  most  of  it  indeed  unfit  for  culti- 
vation— an  area  ample  to  meet  all  of  our  timber  requirements  if  its 
timber-growing  capacity  is  but  put  to  use.  From  every  hand,  during 
the  last  few  months,  we  have  been  told  to  increase  production  as  the 
cure  of  our  economic  ills.  I  submit  that  increased  production  from 
land  is  as  necessary  as  increased  production  by  human  labor.  The 
idleness  of  millions  of  acres  of  forest-growing  land  may  be  even  more 
disastrous  in  its  ultimate  effects  than  the  idleness  of  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  skilled  mechanics.  And  we  have  in  America  today  an  area 
of  idle  forest  land  equal  to  the  combined  forest  of  Continental  Europe 
aside  from  Russia. 

The  answer  to  the  forestry  problem  of  the  United  States  is  not  to 
use  less  wood  but  to  grow  more — to  put  our  idle  acres  of  burned  and 
logged-off  timber  land  at  work  growing  trees.  This  is  not  inherently 
a  difficult  thing  to  accomplish.  It  is  not  the  Utopian  dream  of  a  tech- 
nical enthusiast.  Three-fourth  of  it  lies  in  preventing  forest  fires. 
But  it  does  require  an  aggressive  national  policy  of  reforestation.  It 
requires  concerted  action  by  the  national  and  state  governments  to  do 
the  things  which  must  be  done  by  ])ul)lic  agencies.  It  requires  the 
active  ])artici])t!ti()n  of  the  private  forest  owner.  It  requires  a  clear 
definition  ol'  ])ublic  and  private  responsibihties  as  to  timber-growing 
land,  with  an  equitable  showing  of  the  cost.  There  is  no  phase  of  our 
M'hole  problem  of  an  assured  and  perpetual  supply  of  timber  that  can- 
not l)e  met  by  sinqile  and  obvious  measures  once  the  constructive  effort 
and  ca])acity  for  organized  coo])eration  of  the  American  people  are 
put  beliind  tliem. 

It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  abundant  and  well  distril)uted 
forests  have  been  a  vital  factor  in  the  prosperity  of  the  Ignited  States. 
It  rests  with  us  to  say  whether  they  will  continue  to  be,  or  wliether  we 


132  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

must  readjust  our  internal  and  industrial  development  within  the  next 
half  century  to  a  basis  where  wood  is  an  imported  luxury.  The  last 
two  years  have  shown  all  too  clearly  what  that  actually  means.  We 
can  no  more  continue  to  draw  indefinitely  upon  the  timber  stored  up 
by  natiu-e  than  we  can  draw  upon  the  natural  fertility  of  our  farm 
lands  without  maintaining  and  restoring  it.  Let  us  safeguard  the 
sources  of  our  national  wealth  and  show  that  we  have  the  thrift  and 
constructive  ability  to  use  them  with  intelligence  and  foresight. 


Be  marks  of  31  r.  Jones  Following  Colonel  Greelei/s  Talk 

When  I  was  a  student  in  our  university — you  can  tell  from  my 
looks  how  long  ago — there  were  four  classes  of  men  who  were  properly 
supposed  to  come  to  college  or  university:  the  prospective  lawyer,  the 
doctor,  tlie  preachers,  and  the  teacher.  If  one  had  announced  that  he 
intended  coming  to  our  university  to  become  a  forester  he  would  have 
been  thought  a  freak.  We  had  one  engineer,  I  remember,  a  long  lank 
fellow.  We  sympathized  with  him.  We  thought  he  was  going  to  be 
so  lonesome  in  the  world.  We  little  realized  that  before  the  present 
time,  thousands  of  engineers  would  have  left  our  university  and  engi- 
neering would  be  among  the  greatest  of  the  industries  in  America. 

Sometimes  it  is  difficult  to  tell  what  jDrofession  one  should  join.  I 
heard  of  one  good  father  and  mother,  w4th  their  only  son  John,  who 
were  asked  what  they  were  going  to  do  with  him.  The  father  said  he 
had  talked  of  this  a  great  deal  with  the  mother  and  they  concluded 
that  John  must  be  a  lawyer  or  a  doctor,  and  on  thinking  it  all  over  they 
had  concluded  that  they  would  rather  take  him  law  than  his  medicine, 
and  he  was  going  to  be  a  lawyer. 

We  have  here  tonight  one  of  that  class  belonging  to  the  teaching 
class,  one  who  elected  to  become  a  professor.  We  who  live  in  Madison 
knew  him  very  well.  We  knew  his  father  and  mother  and  his  grand- 
father and  grandmother  and  everyone  before  him.  I  knew  liim  par- 
ticularly well  because  I  was  his  nearest  neighl^or.  I  watched  his  antics 
and  his  pranks  as  a  boy,  and  they  were  just  as  harmless  as  the  pranks 
and  antics  of  other  boys.  I  supposed  that  in  a  little  while  he  would 
grow  up  and  marry  and  settle  down  and  become  a  hardware  merchant 
or  a  lumber  merchant  following  the  ways  of  his  ancestors.    By-and-by 


A  Decexxial  Record  133 

we  heard  that  he  was  a  shark  in  inathematics,  and  we  began  to  hear  that 
he  was  a  shark  in  physics.  We  did  not  know  any  more  about  physics 
than  we  did  about  Hebrew,  but  we  were  glad  to  have  a  shark  among 
us.  After  a  while  we  were  glad  that  he  became  a  professor  in  our 
university,  and  we  were  prouder  still,  though  somewhat  sad,  when  lie 
M'as  called  to  Yale.  Then  after  he  left  us  we  began  to  hear  that  he  was 
one  of  the  greatest  physicists  in  America.  We  were  glad  to  hear  also 
afterwhile  that  he  had  concluded  to  come  back  to  his  old  university, 
his  old  city,  and  his  old  fishing  grounds. 

Then  the  war  came  on,  and  we  began  to  hear  that  our  friend  was 
experimenting  out  on  T.ake  Mendota  to  further  the  demands  of  our 
country  for  means  to  check  the  advance  of  the  Kaiser  and  Hinden- 
burg  and  their  submarines  in  their  attempts  to  sink  the  navies  of  the 
Alhes.  We  thought  it  was  a  pretty  big  job  he  was  undertaking,  and 
a  rather  small  field  for  his  operations,  but  we  had  faith  in  him,  and 
presently  we  heard  of  his  experiments  along  the  Atlantic  Coast;  and 
then  we  heard  that  he  had  actually  invented  a  device  that  would  detect 
the  coming  of  the  submarines.  Then  we  heard  that  he  had  been  called 
over  to  England  to  consult  M'ith  the  scientists  and  the  naval  experts 
of  the  Allies — and  finally  he  came  back.  He  is  here  tonight.  He  has 
been  called  upon  to  step  into  the  breach  to  take  the  place  of  a  celebrated 
engineer  who  had  intended  to  come. 

I  have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  Professor  ]\Iax  ]Mason  who  will 
speak  to  you. 


BENDING  OF  HEAVY  WHEEL  RIMS 


A  Decexxiai.  Record  13.3 


THE    SUBMARINE    DETECTOR 

ProfcsfiorM(hv  Mason,  Universiti/  of  IVisconshi 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen : 

Our  experience  in  the  attempt  to  develop  some  ways  which  would 
aid  in  combating  the  German  submarine  warfare  began  shortly  after 
our  entrance  into  the  war  with  a  meeting  called  by  the  National  Re- 
search Council  in  Washington.  Physicists  from  America  were  sum- 
moned to  hear  a  discussion  of  the  ways  and  means  of  meeting  the  sul)- 
marine  combat  by  the  British  and  French  naval  and  scientific  men  who 
were  sent  to  America  for  the  purpose  of  giving  American  research  a 
running  start :  and  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  days  we  were  told  of 
the  naval  methods  of  combating  the  submarines  and  of  the  scientific 
research  which  had  already  been  started  and  which  had  resulted  in  the 
perfection  and  installation  of  some  detective  devices. 

We  were  shocked  at  that  time  to  realize  that  the  enormous  loss 
through  the  sinking  of  ships— that  was  in  the  early  days  of  1918 — were 
being  accomplished  by  a  marvelously  small  number  of  submarines. 
From  the  experience  of  the  British  and  French  navies  combined  it 
was  estimated  that  only  12  or  14-  submarines  were  on  duty  at  one  time, 
and  we  left  that  conference  with  the  thought  that  if  12  or  14  can  do  this 
damage,  and  if  submarines  can  be  constructed  rapidly  and  manned 
rapidly,  what  an  enormous  amount  of  waste  would  result  in  the  near 
future. 

At  that  time  tliere  was  no  adequate  defense  against  submarines. 
The  British  naval  officers  summed  it  up  in  this  way :  "I  have  not  much 
to  tell  you  of  our  submarine  work.  It  consists  of  the  following  action. 
AVe  get  a  wireless  message  that  a  ship  has  been  torpedoed  and  we  send 
out  a  boat  to  pick  up  the  survivors."  About  that  time  the  navy's  use 
of  depth  charges  and  the  institution  of  the  convoy  system  effectively 
changed  things  so  that  the  situation  cleared  up  greatly. 

In  the  early  days  a  destroyer  would  take  one  or  two  depth  charges 
and  some  cans  of  TXT.  300  pounds  each,  and  if  they  were  dead 
certain  they  were  near  the  submarine  they  would  drop  a  can  of  TXT 
thinking  they  had  probably  destroyed  it.  In  later  days  destroyers  went 


136  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 


out  with  their  ship  decks  loaded  with  depth  charges  up  to  100  in  num- 
ber and  toured  over  the  sea,  dropping  in  a  definitely  ordered  spiral  as 
many  as  60  depth  charges  in  10  seconds  of  one  another;  and,  of  course, 
if  they  did  not  destroy  the  submarine  they  shook  up  the  personnel  so 
enormously  that  it  became  very  unpleasant  in  the  submarine. 

The  great  problem  was  to  find  where  it  was,  and  that  was  the 
problem  which  the  National  Research  Council  wished  to  solve.  What 
detective  device  could  be  used  to  determine  the  position  of  the  subma- 
rine when  completely  submerged?  I  will  not  and  can  not  give  you  in 
a  short  time  the  number  of  devices  which  were  attempted  to  detect 
submarines.  Probably  if  you  took  a  large  text  book  on  physics  and 
read  every  chapter  you  would  not  find  any  physical  phenomenon  which 
was  not  attempted,  which  was  not  utilized  in  some  way,  to  attempt  to 
detect  submarines  by  virtue  of  that  phenomenon — light,  sound,  heat, 
electricity,  magnetism,  everything — but  the  thing  that  seemed  most 
promising  was  sound,  for  a  machine  can  not  move  without  making  a 
considerable  noise.  Unfortunately  a  submarine  does  not  make  much 
noise.  The  efforts  we  made  in  Wisconsin  towards  detecting  subma- 
rines were  based  upon  the  method  of  determining  their  position  by  the 
sound  they  make.    That  is  not  an  easy  problem. 

The  submarine  makes  a  noise  hke  that  of  a  humming  bird  in  a 
boiler  factory,  the  factory  corresponding  to  the  ship  and  the  humming 
bird  to  the  submarine  to  be  detected.  You  can  imagine  what  it  would 
be  if  you  were  clattering  down  a  cobblestone  street  with  a  threshing 
machine  and  an  electric  automobile  was  somewhere  distant  and  you 
were  trying  to  determine  just  where  the  automobile  was  at  every 
instant.    You  could  not  do  it. 

The  plan  which  occurred  to  me  in  relation  to  the  detecting  device 
was  to  work  with  sound  in  some  such  manner  as  we  are  familiar  with 
in  light.  You  cannot  see  a  star  in  the  daytime  but  if  you  sufficiently 
screen  off  the  disturbing  light  from  the  skies  and  utilize  a  deep  well 
or  a  telescope  you  can  see  it  in  the  daytime.  If  you  can  get  some 
method  of  intensifying  sound  from  one  direction  only  and  shutting  it 
off  from  all  other  directions  you  might  be  able  to  detect  a  fair  portion 
of  one  sound  by  thus  eliminating  the  others,  and  the  instruments  we 
developed  were  based  on  that  theory.  We  started  working  here  witli 
the  generous  and  cordial  support  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin  re- 
gents.   We  soon  moved  to  New  London,  and  there  under  the  naval 


A  Decexxial  Recokd  137 

ausi^ices  continued  throughout  the  war.  A  special  board  of  the  navy 
was  formed  to  deal  with  anti-submarine  devices,  and  under  their  direc- 
tion rapid  experiments  developed,  with  the  training  of  pliysicists  and 
the  installation  of  devices. 

I  have  a  few  slides  illustrating  this  work  which  we  will  go  through 
and  I  will  attempt  to  describe,  Avithout  going  into  technical  detail,  some 
of  the  features  of  the  work. 

(The  remainder  of  ]Mr.  ^Jason's  siDcech  was  descriptive  of  the 
slides.) 


A  Decennial  Record  139 


IXTRODUCTORY    SPEECH 

John  FiAl'II,  CJiainnan,  Forester,  Pcnusi/lvania  Raihcai/  Sf/s-tcm 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen : 

It  must  be  a  great  satisfaction  to  the  committee  on  arrangements 
for  this  Decennial  Celebration  of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory  as 
well  as  to  the  members  of  that  organization  to  see  this  large  attendance 
on  the  second  day  of  their  celebration.  It  shows  that  you  enjoyed  the 
instructive  and  interesting  program  of  yesterday.  Those  of  you 
who  were  not  here  yesterday  will  doubtless  be  sorry  that  you  did  not 
come.  Those  of  you  who  have  been  here  before  are  glad  that  you  have 
come  again  and  those  who  are  in  Madison  and  at  the  laboratory  for  the 
first  time  will  undoubtedly  go  away  resolved  to  come  again. 

A  good  many  people  who  would  have  liked  to  be  here  were  unable 
to  come,  and  if  you  will  indulge  with  me  a  moment  I  would  like  to 
have  you  hear  what  they  have  to  say  in  regretting  their  inability  to  join 
you.  *  Here  is  a  letter  addressed  to  Director  Winslow  by  Mr.  McGar- 
vey  Cline  whom  you  heard  mentioned  yesterday  as  the  first  director  of 
the  Forest  Products  Laboratory. 

"In  this  mornings  mail.  I  received  a  program  of  the  Decennial 
Celebration  of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory.  It  recalled  to  my 
mind  the  early  struggles  which  led  to  its  establishment.  My  hope  in 
those  days  was  to  build  so  well  that  the  work  which  the  laboratory 
represents  should  take  such  deej)  root  that  it  would  be  immune  to  the 
storms  and  upheavals  wliich  so  often  disturb  the  continuity  of  research 
work.  My  pride  in  tlie  laboratory  is  almost  paternal,  and  I  congratu- 
late you  most  heartily  upon  what  you  have  done  in  making  it  almost 
an  essentiill  element  in  the  evolution  of  the  forest-using  industries. 

"I  regret  keenly,  however,  that  I  cannot  be  present  at  the  Decen- 
nial Celebration.  I  would  enjoy  so  much  being  with  you  and  other 
members  of  tlie  Old  Guard  when  you  celebrate  the  successful  com- 
pletion of  the  tentli  year  in  the  life,  which  I  hope  will  endure  to  a  ripe 
old  age. 

"Give  my  regards  to  Weiss.  Greeley.  Burgess,  President  Birge 
and  any  other  old  friends  of  mine  who  are  with  you  during  the  period 
of  festivitv." 


140  The  Foeest  Products  Laboratory 

We  have  a  letter  from  Dr.  Stanley  Coulter  whom  all  of  you  know 
as  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  conservation  movements : 

"I  acknowledge  with  thanks  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  De- 
cennial Celebration  and  regret  that  it  was  not  received  in  time  to  allow 
me  to  arrange  my  j^lans  so  as  to  be  present.  As  a  matter  of  fact  it  was 
forwarded  me  here. 

"The  work  of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory  has  been  of  such 
scope  and  significance  that  anyone  interested  in  conservation  prob- 
lems would  feel  eager  to  have  a  part  in  a  celebration  recognizing  its 
past  achievements  and  at  which  one  would  doubtless  learn  something 
of  its  plans  for  the  future." 

Those  of  you  who  have  been  in  touch  w^th  the  development  of  the 
naval  stores  industry  and  the  conservation  of  rosin  due  to  the  improved 
methods  of  tapping  yellow  pine  trees  for  resin  are  familiar  with  the 
name  of  Dr.  Charles  Herty  who  did  such  excellent  pioneer  Avork  in  the 
development  of  the  present  methods  of  turpentining.  Dr.  Herty  wires 
congratulations  and  best  wishes  to  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory 
regretting  his  inability  to  attend  the  Decennial  Celebration. 

Xot  only  Dr.  Herty  who  started  the  work  but  those  who  have 
benefited  by  the  researches  of  the  laboratory  in  pine  distillation  feel 
regret  at  not  being  here.  We  have  from  the  Turpentine  and  Rosin 
Producers'  Association  a  telegram  reading  as  follows — "Congratula- 
tions on  accomplishments  during  your  ten  years  at  Madison." 

Not  only  in  the  United  States  are  there  those  who  wish  the  lab- 
oratory well  but  Ave  have  from  Erie,  Pa.,  a  telegram  from  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  Norwegian  Government — "Heartiest  congratulations 
to  you  and  all  your  friends  at  your  grand  institution." 

The  following  letter  from  Cheltenham,  England,  was  received— 
"I  thank  you  and  your  committee  for  your  invitation  to  attend  the 
Decennial  Celebration  on  July  22nd,  but  regret  that  it  is  impossible 
for  me  to  attend.  I  take  this  opportunity  of  expressing  to  the  General 
Committee  and  esi3ecially  to  Professor  Winslow,  the  great  assistance 
which  the  publications  which  he  was  good  enough  to  send  me,  have  been 
to  the  Committee  on  Aeroplane  Timber,  of  which  I  was  Chairman, 
and  thank  you  most  heartily  on  behalf  of  the  Committee  for  these  most 
valuable  papers." 

As  you  all  know  there  is  in  the  United  States  a  Cham])er  of  Com- 
merce which  represents  in  the  business  life  the  institution  which  is  sup- 


A  Decexxial  Record  141 

posed  to  correlate  all  of  the  activities  of  the  various  chambers  of  com- 
merce and  boards  of  trade.    Its  president  writes : 

"I  wish  again  to  express  my  regret  that  I  shall  be  unable  to  attend 
the  Decennial  Celebration  of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory,  to  be 
held  at  Madison,  Wisconsin,  on  July  22nd  and  23rd. 

"I  am  happy  to  advise  you,  however,  that  I  have  found  opportu- 
nity to  ask  iMr.  E.  W.  McCullough,  who  will  hand  you  this  letter,  and 
who  represents  the  Chamber  as  the  Chief  of  its  Department  on  Fabri- 
cated Production,  to  attend.  His  Department  is  naturally  related 
to  the  enterprises  the  Celebration  is  calculated  to  forward." 

Those  of  us  who  have  been  coming  to  the  Forest  Products  I^ab- 
oratory  with  any  regularity  do  not  hesitate  to  suggest  to  the  rest  of 
you  that  you  get  the  habit.  It  will  not  hurt.  You  will  be  unable  in 
these  two  davs,  which  are  so  filled  with  various  other  functions,  to  ffet 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  work  across  the  street,  but  if  you  could 
spend  a  period  of  reasonable  length,  undoubtedly  you  would  get  very 
much  from  the  laboratory.  Then,  should  you  later  come  back,  you 
would  undoubtedly  find  changes  in  the  personnel,  for  the  valuable 
services  which  its  members  can  render  to  industrial  institutions  result 
in  many  of  them  being  taken  aw\ay,  but  you  would  find  constantly  there 
the  same  spirit,  the  spirit  that  more  actively  each  j'car  develops  along 
the  line  that  the  Forest  Service  stands  for,  that  is,  usefulness  and  serv- 
ice to  the  people  of  the  coimtry  in  providing  the  wood  necessary  in  its 
every  day  life. 

You  are  going  to  hear  today  about  some  of  the  problems  con- 
nected with  the  industries  depending  upon  the  forest.  The  first  of 
these  is  that  which  to  each  of  you  represents  what  you  get  in  the  news- 
papers every  day  and  in  the  magazines  you  read,  forming  the  aston- 
ishing amount  of  35  pounds  of  paper  to  each  man,  woman  and  child 
in  the  United  States  every  year.  When  you  think  of  the  paper  that 
is  used  for  other  purposes  besides  newspapers  it  makes  the  total  of 
over  100  pounds  of  all  kinds  of  paper  consumed  by  each  of  you  every 
year.  It  is  natural  to  assume  that  in  the  production  of  that  vast 
amount  of  material  there  are  a  great  many  problems  and  on  those 
problems  we  are  going  to  hear  from  Mr.  Everest,  General  Manager 
of  the  IVIarathon  Paper  ^Nlills  Company. 


A  Decexxial  Record  143 


SO:SIK    PROBLEMS   OF   THE   PULP   AND   PAPER 
INDUSTRY 

D.  C.  Everest,  Sccrctdrij  and  General  Manager,  MaraiJion 
Paper  Mills  Com  pan  if 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Gentlemen : 

In  2)resenting  some  of  the  j^roblems  in  which  the  Pulp  and  Paper 
Industry  is  interested,  I  intend  to  deal  only  with  those  which  relate  to 
the  work  of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory  and  which  we  expect  to 
be  able  to  solve  by  intelligent  cooperation  with  this  institution. 

In  tlie  beginning  I  wish  to  say  that  even  though  this  laboratory 
has  been  in  existence  for  ten  years,  Paper  and  Pulp  manufacturers 
have  not  taken  advantage  of  its  remarkable  facilities  to  any  great  ex- 
tent, and,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  only  comparatively  few  yet  realize  what 
a  wonderful  asset  we  have  in  tliis  institution.  What  I  have  said  of 
the  Paper  and  Pulp  industry,  I  believe  applies  equally  as  well  to 
other  branches  of  industry  represented  here  today  and  tliose  which 
have  to  deal  with  forest  products  in  any  form. 

Had  we  as  manufacturers  of  forest  materials  awakened  to  the 
value  of  the  laboratory  to  us  and  taken  the  interest  in  it,  which  is  now 
apparently  manifested,  there  Mould  be  fewer  problems  of  our  various 
industries  today.  ]Men  connected  with  this  institution  have,  from  the 
time  of  its  establishment,  been  anxious  and  wilhng  to  cooperate  with 
manufacturers  in  any  way  and  have  only  been  prevented  from  render- 
ing greater  service  on  account  of  the  failure  of  manufacturers  to  ac- 
quaint tile  laboratory  personnel  witli  the  problems  confronting  them. 
For  ten  years  tlie  men  here  liave  tackled  every  prolilem  which  has  been 
put  \\\)  to  them  and  have  rendered  invaluable  service  to  those  who  have 
realized  tlie  necessity  of  such  work  and  have  made  use  of  the  labora- 
tory in  the  manner  intended  when  this  institution  was  established. 

The  ])resent  situation  in  the  paper  industry,  abnormal  as  it  is, 
has  directed  the  attention  of  more  manufacturers  to  the  need  of  imme- 
diate and  definite  action  in  attacking  the  various  problems  with  which 
they  are  confronted.  The  attitude  in  the  jjast  has  been  to  take  advan- 
tage of  the  improvements  only  as  they  have  been  made  by  a  few  pro- 


14.4  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

gressive  manufacturers,  and  a  tendency  to  procrastinate,  even  in  this, 
has  been  rather  common.  The  condition  of  the  industry  looking  to  the 
immediate  future  demands  that  these  problems  be  attacked  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  produce  definite  results  in  the  shortest  time,  for  with  the 
growing  scarcity  of  pulp  wood  in  the  eastern  and  central  states  and 
our  increasing  dependence  upon  Canada  for  the  supply  of  raw  mate- 
rial, a  situation  has  been  created,  which  can  be  rightfully  viewed  with 
alarm.  While  some  research  either  in  a  haphazard  manner  or  follow- 
ing a  carefully  coordinated  plan  has  been  carried  on  by  the  paper  in- 
dustry, it  is  safe  to  say  that  only  those  organizations  in  which  the 
program  of  research  was  definite  have  succeeded  in  placing  the  manu- 
facture of  their  products  upon  a  sound  basis  and  are  now  able  to  take 
full  advantage  of  their  foresight. 

When  research  is  mentioned  among  paper  mill  men,  and  other 
timber  users,  too  often  the  audience  is  unsympathetic  if  not  hostile, 
and  the  tendency  of  many  mill  operators  has  been  to  look  with  dis- 
favor upon  the  efforts  of  investigators  along  scientific  rather  than  the 
immediate  practical  lines. 

In  spite  of  all  this,  the  pulp  and  paper  section  of  the  Forest 
Products  Laboratory  has  been  striving  for  the  past  ten  years  with 
funds  and  personnel  inadequate  for  the  work  in  which  they  are  engaged 
to  solve  some  of  the  pressing  problems  of  the  industry.  The  field  is  a 
large  one,  and  most  of  the  work  pioneer  in  character.  How  success- 
ful they  have  been  in  their  work  may  be  judged  from  the  following 
recital  of  the  major  problems  which  they  have  attacked  and  are  now 
studying. 

The  need  for  definite  specifications  to  cover  the  purchase  of  pulp 
wood  has  long  been  recognized.  That  the  present  basis  of  purchase, 
using  the  cord  as  the  unit  of  measurement,  is  inaccurate  cannot  be 
doubted.  The  ordinary  piled  cord  4'x4'x8'  may,  depending  on  the 
diameter  of  the  bolts,  freedom  from  knots,  etc.,  contain  by  actual 
measurement  from  104  to  65  cu.  ft.  of  solid  wood.  Further,  the  pres- 
ent method  of  buying  wood  does  not  make  a  proper  allowance  for  the 
percentage  of  decay.  More  than  four  years  ago  an  attempt  was  made 
to  interest  pulp  mills  in  this  problem,  but  until  very  recently  nothing 
has  been  accomplished.  However,  field  work  financed  by  the  Ameri- 
can Pulp  and  Paper  Association  is  now  under  way,  and  no  doubt 
exists  but  that  the  results  accomplished  will  meet  expectations. 


A  Dpxexxial  Record  145 

Closely  connected  with  this  problem,  and  of  more  vital  impor- 
tance due  to  the  growing  scarcity  of  pulp  woods,  is  tliat  of  rossing. 
chipping,  drying  and  baling  of  pulp  wood  preparatory  to  delivery  to 
the  pulp  mill.  With  the  vast  pulp  wood  forests  of  the  West  practically 
untouched,  it  is  felt  that  some  such  method  as  this  may  offer  a  solution 
to  the  decreasing  supply  of  pulp  wood  in  the  East.  This  is  now  a  cost 
of  transportation  problem. 

For  many  years  the  enormous  amounts  of  the  unavoidable  waste 
in  the  lumber  industry  has  challenged  attention.  Few  pulp  mills, 
however,  have  been  in  a  position  to  utilize  this  waste,  and  have  de- 
pended upon  round  wood  for  their  supply.  Conservation  of  timber 
resources  will  in  time  compel  the  utmost  utilization  of  this  waste,  and 
the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  lumber  mills  will  undoubtedly  under- 
take the  barking  of  edgings  and  slabs,  chipping  and  screening  the 
wood  and  selling,  in  the  case  of  hemlock,  the  bark  to  the  tanneries. 

Tlie  utilization  of  hemlock  bark  obtained  from  the  barking  drums 
has  already  been  the  subject  of  study  upon  semi-commercial  scale,  and 
and  it  only  remains  to  bring  the  tanner  and  pulp  man  to  a  mutual 
imderstanding  of  each  other's  problems.  The  burning  of  such  bark 
is  indeed  a  great  waste  if  the  value  for  tanning  purposes  as  shown  by 
the  semi-commercial  test  is  actually  proved  in  the  commercial  tests  to 
be  made,  and  there  now  seems  to  be  no  question  about  its  being  worked 
out  satisfactorily. 

The  increasing  cost  and  scarcity  of  wood  labor  has  both  reduced 
the  supply  and  increased  the  value  of  hemlock  bark.  And  in  addition, 
the  inability  of  the  lumbermen  to  deliver  peeled  pulp  wood  to  the  pulp 
manufacturer  has  further  increased  the  cost  of  this  commodity. 

The  woods  of  the  national  forests,  particularly  those  of  the  West, 
have  been  the  subject  of  an  intensive  investigation  looking  toward 
their  utilization  by  both  mechanical  and  chemical  processes.  All  the 
more  important  pulp  wood  species  have  been  investigated,  and  samples 
are  available  on  practically  all  the  woods  of  importance  from  a  pulp- 
making  standpoint.  Local  and  economic  conditions  still  remain  to  be 
studied,  and  since  a  great  deal  of  this  work  was  done  prior  to  1914,  the 
greatly  changed  conditions  necessitate  a  further  survey. 

Sulphite  pulp  can  best  be  produced  from  the  non-resinous  woods, 
and  the  decreasing  supply  brings  into  importance  the  possibility  of 
reducing  resinous  woods  by  this  process.    A  successful  solution  of  this 


146  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

problem  would  make  available  many  cheap  woods  whicli  cannot  now 
be  used  and  to  a  decided  extent  assist  in  overcoming  the  wood  shortage. 

The  possibility  opened  by  the  use  of  liquid  sulphur  dioxide,  which 
can  be  obtained  from  the  smelters,  in  the  manufacture  of  sulphite  acid 
has  been  a  subject  of  much  speculation,  and  while  semi-commercial 
scale  studies  have  pretty  clearly  indicated  the  results  to  be  expected, 
it  still  remains  for  a  mill  scale  demonstration  to  be  made.  The  largest 
source  of  this  material  is,  of  course,  in  the  West,  and  in  addition  to 
offering  an  outlook  for  an  extremely  ob j  ectionable  nuisance,  it  would 
go  far  to  eliminate  the  damage  to  which  all  vegetation  in  the  vicinity 
of  a  smelter  producing  such  fumes  is  subjected. 

In  line  with  the  policy  of  conservation  of  by-products,  investiga- 
tions have  been  planned  and  carried  out  on  the  uses  of  waste  sulphite 
liquor  for  the  production  of  alcohfol,  binders,  tanning  materials,  etc. 
When  one  considers  that  approximately  one-half  the  weight  of  the 
wood  is  dissolved  during  the  course  of  the  coking  treatment  and  ordi- 
narily runs  to  waste,  some  idea  may  be  gained  of  the  immensity  of  this 
problem.  It  may  be  that  in  time  to  come,  the  relative  importance  of 
the  products  of  pulping  may  be  reversed,  as  was  done  in  the  coke  in- 
dustry. 

Hardly  a  sulphite  mill  exists  but  that  experiences  trouble  with 
"pitch",  and  in  spite  of  this,  but  little  has  been  accomplished  along  the 
lines  of  pitch  elimination.  The  laboratory  equipment  is  too  small  to 
permit  a  comprehensive  study  to  be  made  of  this  problem,  but  analyses 
in  conjunction  with  changing  cooking  conditions  will  doubtless  throw 
a  great  deal  of  light  on  the  subject. 

The  study  of  fundamental  cooking  conditions  in  the  soda  and 
sulphate  processes  led  to  the  development  of  a  modified  method  of 
producing  sulphate  pulp.  By  this  method  decreased  chemical  and 
steam  consumption  and  increased  yields  were  obtained,  and  while  it 
has  been  impossible  to  conduct  an  entirely  satisfactory  mill  scale  trial, 
no  doubt  exists  that  this  method  is  worthy  of  wide  use. 

Although  sulphate  pulp  is  not  usually  considered  as  easy  bleach- 
ing, indications  are  that  it  can  be  successfully  bleached,  yielding  a  fair 
color  with  a  higher  ultimate  yield  than  w  ood  pulped  by  the  soda  or  sul- 
phite process.  A  pulp-  and  paper-making  trial  has  just  been  com- 
pleted where  southern  pine  pulped  by  the  sulphate  process  has  been 
bleached,  and  used  to  a  large  extent  in  the  production  of  a  satisfactory 


A  Decennial  Recokd  147 

magazine  sheet.  This  has  been  done  witliout  undue  cost  or  sacrifice 
in  yields. 

One  of  the  questions  which  is  very  frequently  the  subject  of 
conversation  when  sulpliate  mill  men  get  together  is  the  relative  ad- 
vantages of  diffusers  and  pans.  This  problem,  however,  can  only  be 
successfully  attacked  upon  the  mill  scale,  and  the  same  applies  to  a 
study  of  the  cause  of  corrosion  of  diffusers. 

The  successful  recovery  of  chemicals  from  the  waste  liquor  has 
always  been  of  great  importance,  and  any  means  which  can  be  devised 
to  raise  the  percentage  of  recovered  chemicals  would  immediately  be 
reflected  in  a  decreasing  cost  for  manufacture.  Here  again  but  little 
can  be  done  upon  a  small  scale. 

Paralleling  the  recovery  of  by-products  from  sulphite  liquors, 
distillation  of  those  obtained  in  the  soda  or  suljDhate  process  offers  a 
means  of  more  fully  utilizing  the  present  waste.  It  is  definitely  known 
that  valuable  j^roducts  exist  in  the  black  liquors,  but  their  recovery 
upon  a  commercial  scale  is  not  yet  a  complete  success. 

Salt  cake  has  been  universally  used  in  the  sulphate  process  to 
make  up  the  chemical  losses,  but  the  use  of  niter  cake  offers  certain 
advantages  wliich,  however,  are  offset  liy  a  few  serious  drawbacks. 
If  opportunity  could  be  given  for  a  thorough  investigation  into  the  use 
of  niter  cake,  this  problem  might  be  solved. 

A  constant  source  of  trouble  in  the  sulphate  mill  is  found  in  the 
refractory  material  used  in  lining  the  smelters.  While  the  conditions 
existing  in  a  sulphate  smelter  doubtless  offer  great  difficulty,  it  is  not 
inconceivable  tliat  by  intensive  study  a  solution  for  this  problem  can 
be  found. 

Woods  which  are  pulped  by  the  alkali  process  lend  themselves 
very  readily  to  recovery  of  various  products  prior  to  pulping.  So  far, 
however,  tannin  is  the  only  product  which  is  now  recovered  on  a  com- 
mercial scale,  but  the  high  rosin  and  turpentine  content  of  the  southern 
pines  suggest  that  before  long  these  materials  will  also  be  recovered, 
Tliis  problem  can  be  very  successfully  attacked  upon  a  laboratory 
scale  and  has  already  been  too  long  delayed. 

There  are  but  few  quarries  in  this  country  wliere  a  successful 
grade  of  stone  for  pulp  grinders  is  found,  and  the  cost  of  the  work 
necessary  to  experiment  witli  ne^v  deposits  is  practically  prohibitive 
unless  the  investigations  can  be  first  carried  out  upon  a  laboratory 


A  Decexxial  Record  149 

scale.  Closely  connected  witli  this  problem  is  that  of  developing  a 
suitable  artificial  stone,  and  while  many  abrasive  materials  have  been 
suggested,  and  some  tried,  the  problem  is  not  as  yet  solved.  But  here 
again  the  laboratory  can  be  of  great  assistance. 

The  importance  of  keeping  under  control  the  production  of  me- 
chanical pulp  is  receiving  increasing  attention,  and  a  number  of  years 
ago  was  the  subject  of  some  study.  Since  that  time,  however,  no  op- 
portunity has  been  presented  for  the  laboratory  to  continue  this  work, 
althougli  mill  organizations  are  carrying  on  investigations  along  this 
line. 

The  loss  of  fibre  in  Whitewater  has  been  the  subject  of  much 
discussion  in  the  past,  both  from  the  standpoint  of  stream  pollution 
and  improving  plant  conditions.  Because  of  the  large  volume  of  water 
which  must  l)e  handled  in  order  to  recover  the  relatively  small  amount 
of  fiber,  certain  difficulties  present  themselves  at  the  start.  But  prog- 
ress has  certainly  been  made  in  the  solution  of  this  problem,  and  much 
more  can  be  done  if  the  matter  is  made  the  subject  of  an  intensive  study. 

The  effect  of  the  various  factors  entering  into  the  beating  of  pulp 
is  not  entirely  understood,  although  progress  is  being  made  along  these 
lines.  In  spite  of  the  work  tliat  has  been  done  with  experimental  beat- 
ers it  is  not  yet  possible  to  apply  the  results  obtained  upon  a  small  scale 
to  mill  conditions. 

In  connection  with  the  conservation  of  Avaste  materials,  the  recov- 
ering of  various  waste  papers  such  as  paraffine  and  asphalt  commands 
attention.  Because  of  the  difficulty  of  collecting  these  ^vaste  products, 
but  comparatively  little  progress  has  been  made,  although  the  labora- 
tory tests  have  successfully  demonstrated  that  the  impregnating  mate- 
rial can  be  recovered  without  undue  cost  and  the  extracted  pulp  made 
into  a  satisfactory  sheet.  One  mill  is  now  being  })uilt  for  the  extraction 
of  paraffine  and  the  manufacture  of  the  -waste  pa])er  into  pulp. 

The  study  of  a  substitute  for  sulphate  of  alumina  is  a  problem  of 
utmost  importance  at  this  time,  and  if  transportation  conditions  re- 
main as  they  are  today,  and  seemingly  no  miracle  is  going  to  happen 
to  change  these  conditions  under  from  three  to  five  years,  then  Me  shall 
need  some  substitute  for  this  commodity  whicli  we  can  obtain  easily, 
possibly  from  some  materials  now  employed  in  our  pulp-making  indus- 
try.   The  conditions  in  the  manufacture  of  sulphate  of  alumina  todav 


150  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

are  a  serious  problem  for  the  paper  manufacturers.  I  understand 
some  work  has  already  been  done  along  that  line. 

The  study  of  paper  specialties  such  as  fi})er  containers,  indurated 
ware,  molded  articles,  artificial  silks,  twines  and  textiles  requires  a 
highly  organized  research  body,  and  progress  has  necessarily  been 
slow  along  these  lines.  Work  has  been  done  in  an  attempt  to  develop 
water  and  grease  proof  containers,  and  a  certain  degree  of  success  has 
attended  the  efforts. 

Various  raw  materials  other  than  wood  are  receiving  an  increasing 
amount  of  attention  from  the  trade,  and  utilization  of  one  such  mate- 
rial :  namely,  cotton  linters,  has  been  successfully  carried  to  commercial 
scale  operations.  Others  such  as  the  various  grasses,  straws  and  crop 
plants  should  be  the  subject  of  investigations,  but  must  await  the  solu- 
tions of  those  problems  which  are  more  pressing,  and  which  promise 
more  valuable  results. 

Studies  on  the  chemistry  of  pulps  have  been  confined  principally 
to  the  research  carried  on  in  the  European  countries,  although  the  sub- 
ject is  of  great  importance  in  connection  with  the  use  of  chemical  pulp 
for  manufacture  into  various  cellulose  derivitives.  The  lack  of  this 
knowledge  was  very  forcibly  brought  home  during  the  war  when  in- 
vestigations of  the  suitability  of  chemical  pulps  for  manufacture  into 
nitro-cellulose  were  seriously  hampered  by  our  ignorance  of  the  sub- 
ject. In  the  study  of  ]3ulp  wood  and  wood  pulp  decay,  chemistry  will, 
undoubtedly,  play  an  important  part  in  determining  the  various  de- 
composition products  formed  by  the  decay  organisms.  However,  it 
must  be  remembered  that  in  all  cases  where  a  chemical  study  of  pulp 
or  wood  is  made,  complete  data  must  be  available  relative  to  the  pre- 
vious treatment  which  the  material  has  undergone.  Too  much  M'ork 
has  already  been  done  upon  pulps  whose  origin  was  unknown.  Of  the 
various  studies  mentioned,  this  one  alone  requires  the  services  of  sev- 
eral highly  trained  men,  and  results  could  in  no  case  be  expected  under 
several  years'  time. 

The  beginning  of  the  study  of  this  problem  of  deterioration  in 
pulp  wood  and  wood  pulp  to  any  great  extent  in  the  laboratory  was 
t)rought  about  by  the  experience  we  were  having  at  the  mill  in  which  I 
am  interested,  with  fungus  growth  in  stored  and  purchased  pulp. 
Owing  to  the  serious  problems  of  transportation  during  the  war  it 
became  necessary  to  purchase  wood  pulp  in  full  cargoes  and  store  it 


A  Deckxxial  Record  151 

rather  than  to  depend  on  regular  shipments  by  rail  of  freshly  ground 
wood.  This  storing  of  large  quantities  of  pulp  and  particularly  in 
view  of  the  high  market  value  at  the  time,  soon  impressed  one  with  the 
enormous  loss  due  to  deterioration  both  in  money  and  quality  of  prod- 
uct. When  this  problem  was  taken  up  with  the  laboratory  it  was  found 
that  practically  all  the  funds  were  tied  up  for  other  work  and  that 
even  tliough  the  funds  were  available,  the  necessarj^  pathologists  and 
others  necessary  to  the  prosecution  of  the  work  must  be  found.  It  was 
impossible  to  do  an\i;hing  until  funds  could  be  supplied  and  according 
to  regular  practice  this  would  mean  waiting  until  appropriations  were 
made  and  the  money  available  after  July  1st.  This  meant  a  delay  of 
nearly  a  year  and  consequently  I  undertook  to  raise  sufficient  funds 
from  concerns  engaged  in  pulp  and  paper  manufacturing  to  defray 
the  expense  of  this  work  until  regular  governmental  appropria- 
tions would  be  made  to  cover  it.  Twenty-three  concerns  contributed 
^10,500.00,  about  one-fourth  of  the  concerns  addressed  on  the  subject 
replied  to  the  first  appeal  and  the  reasons  given  by  others  for  not  con- 
tributing after  the  second  and  third  appeals  were  made,  showed  that 
there  was  either  a  lack  of  knoM'ledge  on  the  part  of  many  manufactur- 
ers both  as  to  tlieir  own  needs  and  as  to  the  ability  of  the  Forest  Prod- 
ucts Laboratory  to  handle  such  questions,  or  there  is  an  epidemic  of 
"tightwaditis"  in  this  country  when  it  comes  to  sensible  propositions 
which  are  to  be  of  benefit  to  our  business  and  the  country  generally. 
Let  some  one  present  a  proposition  involving  the  expenditure  of  mil- 
lions of  dollars  for  the  assistance  of  some  fool  thing  or  other  and  men 
seem  possessed  to  be  the  first  on  the  list  to  give  their  personal  or  com- 
pany funds,  but  a  sensible  program  looking  to  the  conservation  of  one 
of  the  greatest  assets  this  country  possesses  is  passed  up  without  giving 
any  financial  aid  and  by  offering  excuses,  usually  too  thin  for  any  use. 
INIany  said  we  are  studying  this  problem  in  our  laboratory,  but  we  had 
all  done  that  for  years  and  were  no  nearer  a  solution  of  the  problem 
than  wlien  we  started.  It  requires  the  best  men  obtainable  in  the  coun- 
try in  several  different  lines  and  it  must  be  patent  to  every  one  that  a 
coordinated  program  being  carried  out  in  one  place  under  such  condi- 
tions as  exist  here  would  yield  better  results  than  if  men  equipped  with 
only  general  chemical  knowledge  and  working  individually  should 
imdertake  the  study  of  this  problem  in  private  laboratories. 


1,52  The  Fokest  Products  Labokatory 

Some  rejjlied  that  this  should  be  a  government  matter  and  the 
government  should  provide  funds,  etc.,  not  seeming  to  realize  that 
funds  were  not  then  available  and  that  the  loss  to  every  manufacturer 
due  to  a  delay  of  six  or  eight  months  in  the  solution  of  such  a  problem 
meant  many  times  the  amount  they  were  asked  to  contribute. 

If  the  Forest  Products  Laboratorj^  is  to  be  of  the  greatest  possible 
assistance  to  the  pulp  and  paper  industry  closer  cooperation  must 
exist  with  the  mills,  for  the  final  test  of  any  laboratory  trial  must  take 
place  in  the  mill.  Too  often  information  vital  to  the  successful  prose- 
cution of  a  problem  is  withheld  or  full  and  hearty  cooperation  is  lack- 
ing. If  the  mills  refuse  to  give  the  laboratory  their  full  confidence 
and  at  the  same  time  maintain  a  critical  and  unsympathetic  attitude 
but  little  real  progress  can  be  made  on  those  problems  in  which  the 
industry  is  vitally  interested. 

If,  however,  they  look  upon  the  laboratory  as  a  part  of  their  own 
organization  and  treat  it  as  such,  correcting  its  mistakes  and  commend- 
ing its  successes,  the  greater  portion  of  any  research  problem  is  already 
solved. 

For  an  organization  of  this  character  to  be  so  seriously  hampered, 
both  as  to  equipment  and  personnel,  is  fatal  to  a  rapid  solution  of  the 
many  problems  with  which  it  is  confronted,  and  it  is,  of  course,  im- 
possible to  carry  on  intensive  studies  of  the  many  pressing  questions. 
Should  a  mill  organization  desire  work  done,  the  results  of  which  would 
be  of  benefit  to  the  whole  industry,  a  cooperative  arrangement  can  be 
made  similar  to  the  ones  now  in  force  with  respect  to  pulp  wood  and 
wood  pulp  decay  and  pulp  wood  measurement.  Or  one  or  more  men, 
financed  by  the  mills,  could  be  detailed  at  the  laboratory  for  an  in- 
tensive study  of  some  problem  under  the  direction  of  the  laboratory 
organization.  Either  of  these  suggestions  is  in  accordance  with  the 
laboratory  policy  of  furthering  the  advance  of  exact  knowledge  of  the 
industry  with  which  they  are  so  closely  connected,  and  their  adoption 
by  any  organization  is  most  heartily  welcomed. 

In  summing  up  the  problems  of  the  pulp  and  paper  industry, 
perhaps  the  one  which  is  as  important  as  any  is  in  seeing  that  ample 
appropriation  is  made  for  the  continuance  of  this  work,  so  that  with  the 
necessary  funds,  the  personnel  of  this  laboratory  may  be  built  up  to 
a  point  where  we  may  rest  assured  that  the  problems  confronting  us 
may  be  solved.    The  personnel  is  the  foundation,  and  the  whole  thing 


A  Decennial  Record  153 


depends  on  it.  The  Secretary  of  Agriculture  has  been  Avorking  to  have 
the  salaries  of  these  men  and  women  jnit  on  a  basis  comparable  to  sal- 
aries paid  in  private  industry  for  like  service,  and  in  this  we  must  assist 
him  in  every  way  possible.    Adequate  salaries  must  be  paid. 

The  necessity  of  such  action  rests  not  only  on  the  paper  and  pulp 
industry  but  on  every  other  branch  of  forest  products  conversion  in- 
dustry in  the  country.  From  my  conversation  with  lumbermen  and 
others  connected  with  wood-Morking  industry,  I  am  convinced  there 
is  a  woeful  lack  of  information  as  to  tliis  work  and  tlie  possible  advan- 
tages of  it  to  the  individual  concern. 

Take,  for  instance,  this  problem  of  deterioration  of  pulp  wood  and 
wood  pulp.  Experiments  have  demonstrated  enormous  losses  in  yield 
from  infected  wood  and  a  falling  off  in  quality  which  is  surprising. 
Heretofore,  deterioration  of  pulp  wood  and  other  forest  products  has 
been  looked  upon  as  a  matter  of  course  and  no  great  effort  made  to 
correct  it.  We  have  heard  of  the  rapidly  decreasing  timber  supply, 
public  men  howl  about  it,  and  newspapers  harp  on  it  continuously. 
Conservation  has  been  preached  by  every  man  who  could  get  an  audi- 
ence. Lumbermen  and  others  of  days  gone  by  have  been  criticised  for 
M'hat  was  at  that  time  an  unavoidable  waste  of  unsuitable  timber  and 
what  was  a  necessary  waste  to  open  up  what  is  now  our  best  agricul- 
tural territory.  Criticism  of  everj-body  and  everything  has  been  the 
order  of  the  day,  but  when  it  comes  down  to  a  proposition  to  finance 
this  laboratory,  the  only  department  of  the  Forest  Service  which  can 
point  the  way  to  conservation  of  our  natural  timber  resources  after 
they  are  removed  from  tlie  land,  it  is  only  after  the  greatest  effort  on 
tlie  part  of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  the  Chief  Forester  and  all 
others  connected  with  that  department,  together  with  the  efforts  of 
various  associations  of  industry  represented  here,  the  splendid  work 
of  some  newspapers  and  trade  journals  and  the  actual  work  in  com- 
mittee of  Congressman  Xelson  and  Senator  Lenroot,  that  Congress 
M'ould  appropriate  barely  enougli  to  keej)  this  institution  alive  for 
another  year. 

Another  strange  fact  is  that  within  a  few  months  of  the  time  the 
appropriation  Mas  fixed  for  the  laboratory  another  committee  made 
up  of  men  from  the  same  body  which  considered  the  appropriation, 
tack  on  to  another  bill  an  appropriation  of  $100,000.00  for  the  investi- 
gation of  a  substitute  for  pulpwood,  cornstalks  or  sugar  cane.     The 


154  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

same  old  story  of  finding  substitutes  for  puljDwood  but  doing  mighty 
little  to  find  ways  to  save  what  we  have.  Probably  none  of  those  who 
dealt  with  the  Underwood  bill  recalled  that  there  was  a  well  established 
laboratory  for  the  purpose  which  they  had  not  properly  supported. 
If  these  gentlemen  are  sincere  when  they  howl  "Conservation",  then 
their  actions  in  providing  for  this  institution  belie  their  words.  ^lost 
people  lose  their  sense  of  proportion  when  dealing  with  large  problems, 
and  unfortunately  congressmen  have  proved  no  exception  to  this  rule. 

We  need  this  laboratory.  Private  enterprise  cannot  buy  such 
facilities  and  conditions.  You  who  have  been  privileged  to  see  and 
know  what  is  being  done  here  must  realize  that  if  we  are  to  solve  our 
technical  problems  relating  to  timber,  its  care,  perpetuation  and 
proper  use,  we  must  back  this  laboratory  to  the  limit,  either  by  in- 
ducing Congress  to  adequately  provide  for  it  or  by  individual  subscrip- 
tion if  necessary. 

There  is  but  one  thing  for  the  paper  and  pulp  industry  and  other 
industries  using  forest  products  to  do,  and  that  is  to  work  earnestly 
for  a  better  understanding  of  the  possibilities  of  this  laboratory  serv- 
ice both  on  the  part  of  the  members  of  their  respective  industries  and 
of  those  who  have  the  responsibility  and  power  to  fix  the  sum  which 
shall  be  expended  in  this  work,  and  in  this  manner  we  may  expect  to 
materially  reduce  the  number  of  problems  which  confront  the  ]3ulp 
and  paper  industry  and  your  other  industries  as  well. 

I  urge  you,  gentlemen,  to  give  this  institution  the  support  it 
deserves  in  the  solution  of  the  scientific  problems  affecting  our  indus- 
tries and  which  are  so  vital  to  our  individual  success  and  the  conserva- 
tion of  one  of  the  nation's  most  valuable  natural  resources. 


Remarks  of  Mr.  Foley  Following  Mr.  Everest's  Talk 

In  the  early  days  of  the  world  war,  most  of  you  heard  a  great  deal 
about  the  National  Council  of  Defense,  the  AYar  Industries  Board, 
and  other  activities  of  the  Government  at  Washington.  To  many 
they  were  simply  names.  To  those  who  spent  any  time  at  Washington 
they  quickly  became  very  significant  factors  in  the  wonderful  work 
which  was  being  done  in  developing  the  necessary  forces  to  resist  the 
progress  of  the  German  Army. 


A  Decennial  Record  155 

Tlie  talk  that  you  heard  from  Professor  Mason  last  night  cer- 
tainly should  have  given  you  an  insight  into  what  was  done  by  the  sci- 
entists of  this  country  in  organizing  the  technical  knowledge  they 
possess  and  which  I  assume  our  German  friends  did  not  credit  them 
with  possessing.  It  was  coordinating  such  knowledge  and  bringing 
into  collaborated  effort  the  experience  and  the  experiments  of  the  vari- 
ous scientists,  individuals,  and  organizations  of  the  country  that  made 
our  wonderful  progress  possible.  What  was  learned  during  the  war 
in  the  way  of  effectiveness  in  such  coordinative  effort  is  being  profited 
by  to  the  extent  that  there  is  now  being  maintained  an  organization 
called  the  National  Research  Council. 

We  are  very  fortunate  this  morning  in  having  present  to  tell 
lis  about  the  work  of  that  organization  its  Extension  Manager,  Dr. 
Howe. 


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A  Decennial  Record  157 


AMERICA'S    PLACE    IX    INDUSTRIAL    RESEARCH 

H.  E.  Hence,  Chairman,  Research  Eojtension  Divmon, 
National  Besearch  Council 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen : 

The  su})jec't  which  has  been  assigned  to  me  affords  a  real  tempta- 
tion to  bring  out  the  American  eagle  and  let  him  scream.  The  easiest 
way  would  be  for  me  to  make  the  assertion  that  America  holds  first 
place,  and  let  the  other  fellow  attempt  to  disprove  the  statement.  I 
think,  however,  that  we  would  do  well  to  consider  how  we  are  regarded 
in  industrial  research,  what  the  present  situation  is,  and  what  the  op- 
portunities are  for  winning  and  holding  first  place.  The  record 
makes  it  ratlier  plain.  I  think,  that  America  rightfully  belongs  out  in 
front  leading  the  industrial  research  procession  in  many  fields  and  in 
the  majority  of  the  fields  of  science  America  has  already  a  very  high 
standing. 

Perhaps  the  best  tributes  that  have  been  paid  to  American  indus- 
trial research  have  been  from  abroad.  I  can  refer  you,  for  example, 
to  ]\Ir.  Fleming's  discussions  in  England  where  he  has  taken  occasion 
to  illustrate  various  phases  of  industrial  research  by  reference  to  the 
Ignited  States  in  the  hope  that  our  progress  here  will  stimulate  the 
efforts  of  our  English  friends  who  may  find  in  our  work  an  example 
worth  emulating. 

More  recently  Holland,  considering  the  establishment  of  a  large 
laboratory  in  Java,  has  taken  pains  to  investigate  our  Government  lab- 
oratories, educational  institutions,  and  the  many  places  where  research 
has  turned  to  the  aid  of  industry. 

Oiu"  Australian  friends  who  have  been  collecting  data  on  research 
laboratories,  routed  many  of  their  men  who  were  retiu*ning  after  the 
war  througli  the  Ignited  States.  These  men  Mere  given  the  informa- 
tion wherever  they  visited,  made  acquainted  with  equipment,  details 
of  method,  reports  of  progress  made  in  our  plans  of  organization,  our 
greatest  activities,  and  in  general  the  points  in  our  own  experience 
which  may  aid  tliem  in  Australia.  They  have  already  decided  upon 
the  duplication  of  some  of  the  equipment  to  be  found  liere  at  ]VIadison. 


158  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

You  have  heard  also  of  the  estabhshment  of  the  Forest  Products 
Laboratory  in  Canada,  and  the  Canadian  Parhament  has  planned 
the  establishment  of  something  similar  to  our  Bureau  of  Standards 
and  the  Mellon  Institute  where  the  training  of  men  as  well  as  the  in- 
vestigation of  scientific  problems  will  be  the  outstanding  features.  I 
think,  therefore,  that  the  way  in  which  our  foreign  friends  have  investi- 
gated our  conditions  and  found  them  satisfactory  speaks  very  well 
indeed  for  our  position  and  gives  us  some  right  to  claim  that  we  are 
well  toward  the  front  in  the  field  of  industrial  research. 

Another  j^iece  of  evidence  on  the  same  point  is  the  status  of  indus- 
tries founded  on  scientific  data.  I  know  of  no  better  argument  to  offer 
in  urging  people  to  undertake  research  in  their  own  industries,  founded 
upon  cut  and  dry  methods,  than  to  point  to  such  experiences. 

^Nlany  of  the  older  institutions  still  use  rule  of  thumb  methods 
and  refuse  to  accept  the  full  measure  of  aid  science  affords.  An  exam- 
ple of  this  is  the  ceramics  industry.  On  the  other  hand,  our  electrical 
industries  and  chemical  industries  have  developed  much  more  rapidly 
than  the  older  industries  and  are  more  progressive.  These  new  ones 
have  founded  themselves  upon  science  and  hold  their  present  status 
due  to  scientific  endeavor. 

In  America  we  have  many  such  industries ;  the  petroleum  industry 
is  an  outstanding  fact  of  what  science  can  accomplish.  I  can  remind 
you  of  the  work  of  Frasch  in  the  elimination  of  sulphur  from  petro- 
leum making  it  possible  to  use  that  material  from  Ohio,  Canada  and 
other  points  for  illumination  purposes.  This,  overnight,  raised  the 
price  of  that  oil  from  90  cents  per  barrel  to  many  times  that  amount. 

The  packing  house  permits  us  to  enjoy  meat  products  at  even  the 
present  prices  only  because  of  the  by-products  which  have  been  devel- 
oped through  industrial  research.  At  one  time  two  per  cent  of  the 
annual  turnover  was  the  net  profit  made  by  the  concerns  on  the  edible 
products. 

The  electro-chemical  and  electrometallurgical  industries  are  con- 
spicuous examples,  and  we  might  spend  all  of  the  time  at  our  disposal 
on  the  progress  made,  especially  during  war  times.  The  fact  is  that 
these  industries  gave  us  our  abrasives  and  whole  industries  have  been 
built  up  around  our  artificial  graphite  and  electrolytically  refined  cop- 
per upon  which  all  electrical  industries  depend.  What  industrial 
research  can  do  in  this  particular  field  has  been  proved,  and  electro- 


A  Decennial  Record  159 


lytic  methods  of  refining  metals  and  making  steel  will  continue  to  en- 
gage attention  for  some  time  to  come. 

In  welding  we  have  made  quite  a  record.  Without  this  research 
we  probahly  could  not  have  repaired  the  German  ships  which  were  in 
New  York  harbor.  This  has  always  been  a  very  interesting  subject 
to  me,  for  we  accomplished  in  a  few  wrecks  w^hat  the  Germans  thought 
would  take  years  to  do.  All  ships  were  damaged  almost  exactly  alike, 
the  variations  being  but  slight.  Everybody  carried  out  his  orders, 
there  being  no  evidence  of  individuality  in  the  methods  used ;  and  when 
the  results  were  available  from  one  ship,  a  method  had  been  worked 
out  for  all  and  it  was  only  necessary  to  increase  the  units  of  the  repair 
equipment.  Out  of  that  work  the  American  Welding  Institute  has 
grown  up  and  is  now  engaged  upon  a  study  of  the  various  methods  of 
gas  and  electric  welding. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  brighter  page  in  industrial  research  in  xVmer- 
ica  than  the  development  of  the  art  of  communication.  In  wireless 
simply  marvelous  progress  has  been  made  and  is  due  wholly  to  re- 
search. Men  who  learned  their  radio  during  the  war  and  have  lost 
touch  since,  find  such  rapidly  changing  conditions  that  they  must  al- 
most begin  over  again.  Such  progress  is  being  made  in  the  use  of  new 
apparatus  and  the  steps  are  being  taken  with  such  rapidity  that  in 
order  to  keep  up  with  wireless  the  men  must  keep  in  touch  with  each 
development  as  it  unfolds  piece  by  piece.  The  wireless  telephone 
strikes  me  as  being  one  of  the  most  remarkable  accomplishments.  That 
we  can  send  waves  traveling  as  from  tlie  center  of  a  sphere  witli  such 
intensity  that  part  of  them  will  reach  a  distance  from  Washington  to 
Paris  or  Hawaii  with  sufficient  force  to  be  heard  is  a  modern  miracle. 

You  heard  from  Professor  Mason  last  night  about  research  on 
one  ty])e  of  communication  that  was  carried  on  in  many  of  our  labora- 
tories during  the  war. 

The  rubber  field  is  another  glowing  exam])le  of  what  American 
research  has  done;  and  still  anotlier  can  be  drawn  from  fields  of  elec- 
tricity, chemistry  and  engineering  in  the  ]Mazda  lamp.  The  use  of  this 
lamp  is  said  to  mean  a  saving  of  $-100,000,000  annually  as  compared 
witli  our  old  carbon  electric  light  bul])s.  Our  scientific  men  fought 
with  German  scientists  for  the  ])rize:  both  knew  the  advantages  of 
tungsten  filament  and  tliat  ductile  tungsten  was  the  next  step.  Our 
men  were  first  to  solve  the  problem,  and  also  to  learn  that  the  use  of 


160  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

inei-t  gas  in  place  of  a  partial  vacuum  in  the  bulb  very  greatly  increases 
the  efficiency  of  the  lamp.  We  like  to  tell  of  this  particular  work  be- 
cause much  of  it  began  in  pure  science  and  has  practically  intrenched 
the  electric  lamp  industry  in  America. 

Something  that  may  be  of  interest,  perhaps,  is  the  work  which  has 
been  done  in  Hawaii  in  the  use  of  paper  to  fight  weeds.  It  is  another 
Yankee  invention.  Due  to  the  type  of  soil  and  the  heavy  rainfall  the 
weeds  grew  so  fast  that  sugar  cane  could  not  be  grown  at  a  profit.  On 
one  plantation  Mr.  Eckhardt  after  many  unsuccessful  efforts  to  kill 
the  weeds  by  spraying,  etc.,  eventually  conceived  the  idea  of  trying  to 
fight  them  by  putting  paper  over  the  rows.  This  is  possible  because 
under  the  paper  you  get  a  hot-house  condition.  The  sharp  spikes  of 
the  sugar  cane  have  little  difficulty  in  penetrating,  while  the  soft  tops 
of  the  weeds  are  unable  to  get  through  the  paper.  The  place  where 
the  spikes  strike  the  paper  obliquely  and  do  not  get  through  is  shown 
by  small  elevations  and  a  knife  incision  permits  their  emergence. 
These  rapidly  overtake  the  ones  which  have  penetrated  earlier. 

A  type  of  roofing  paper  was  used  and  a  few  trials  on  several  acres 
showed  the  possibility  of  decreasing  the  actual  cost  of  production  from 
50  to  80  per  cent,  and  an  increase  of  about  ten  tons  of  cane  per  acre, 
due  to  the  elimination  of  weeds.  That  paper  was,  however,  a  rather 
expensive  product  and  the  next  step  in  industrial  research  was  to  make 
this  type  of  paper  from  Bagasse,  which  is  sugar  cane  from  which  sugar 
has  been  extracted.  This  has  been  worked  out  satisfactorily  on  a  small 
scale  in  this  country  by  Arthur  D.  Little,  Inc.,  and  a  20-ton  mill  is 
now  in  operation  making  sufficient  paper  to  care  for  the  need. 

We  have  heard  mention  made  of  the  progress  of  associations  in 
England  fostered  by  the  Government.  We  have  in  this  country  asso- 
ciations that  are  doing  equally  well  and  have  many  years  of  success 
behind  them. 

The  National  Canners'  Association  is  an  outstanding  example 
of  what  can  be  done  for  industry  through  cooperative  work.  It  was 
one  of  the  first  in  the  field.  The  entire  product  of  the  industry  has 
been  imj^roved ;  virtually  the  whole  industry  has  been  elevated.  This 
does  not  mean  that  the  products  of  inferior  grade  before  this  coopera- 
tive work  began  are  now  equal  to  the  best,  but  that  the  poor  ones  have 
been  improved  and  the  best  ones  have  also  benefited.  The  men  who 
were  formerly  able  to  make  the  best  quality  are  still  able  to  do  and 


A  Decenxial  Record  161 

better  able  with  the  help  of  research.  Members  who  formerly  fought 
scientific  control  now  recognize  its  value  and  their  need  for  it. 

The  Portland  Cement  Association  has  also  accomplished  a  great 
deal,  particularly  in  studying  types  of  aggregates  which  are  suitable 
for  concrete.  Often  faihu-e  in  concrete  is  due  to  the  use  of  excessive 
water  in  making  the  batcli.  This  research  work  done  by  the  Associa- 
tion proves  that  if  care  is  taken  to  use  the  right  proportion  of  cement 
to  give  the  proper  binder,  and  not  to  use  an  excessive  amount  of  water, 
any  local  aggregate  when  graded  and  classified  can  be  used.  This  is 
becoming  the  general  practice  for  roads  and  pavements  and  effecting 
considerable  savings. 

The  malleable  iron  industry  has  been  saved  from  a  secondary 
position  by  the  application  of  industrial  research.  When  this  asso- 
ciation began  its  work  the  members  bound  themselves  to  conform  to  a 
high  standard  specification  administered  by  the  laboratory.  If  a  cer- 
tain foundry  was  tin-ning  out  a  poor  grade  of  iron,  that  foundrj^  was 
visited  and  steps  taken  to  put  its  product  on  a  higher  level.  Those  who 
were  making  the  best  iron  before  this  work  was  undertaken  are  still 
making  the  best  iron  although  the  tensile  strength  and  other  physical 
characteristics  are  higher  for  tlie  entire  industry.  Individuals  and 
concerns  have  been  benefited  witliout  interfering  with  the  progress 
which  comes  from  individual  initiative,  and  the  resourcefulness  of  the 
concerns. 

Commercial  laboratories  are  filling  a  very  real  need.  ]Many 
manufacturers  who  can  not  afford  to  establish  research  laboratories 
and  whose  research  problems  are  not  receiving  the  attention  of  asso- 
ciations find  these  laboratories  very  useful  and  necessary. 

The  Bureau  of  Standards,  the  Bureau  of  Chemistry,  the  Bureau 
of  ]Mines  and  many  other  of  the  forty  Government  bureaus  devoted  to 
scientific  research  must,  of  course,  be  mentioned  as  factors  in  estab- 
lishing our  high  position  in  research.  In  the  estimation  of  our  foreign 
friends  they  rank  higli.  It  often  seems,  as  Mr.  Everest  has  told  us, 
tliat  the  funds  are  not  as  large  as  they  shovild  be,  but  the  total  appro- 
priations for  scientific  work  constitute  a  sum  which  is  not  inconsider- 
al)le,  and  I  think  we  are  probably  doing  more  than  any  other  Govern- 
ment. Other  Governments  liave  accepted  our  researcli  results  and 
tliese  institutions  have  added  mucli  to  our  fame  abroad  as  well  as  at 


A  Decennial  Record  163 

home.    But  we  are  not  doing  enough  and  have  not  enough  money  at 
our  disposal. 

The  industrial  fellowship  plan  of  the  Mellon  Institute  carries 
with  it  the  idea  of  developing  men  for  a  particular  field  and  at  the  same 
time  solving  the  given  problem.  The  success  has  been  marked.  All 
in  all,  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  we  do  stand  high  in  industrial 
research.  The  present  condition  is  very  promising  for  eventual  and 
undisputed  leadership. 

A  list  of  nearly  300  industrial  research  laboratories  has  been  pub- 
lished by  the  National  Research  Council  and  this  does  not  include  all 
in  the  United  States.  The  scale  on  which  certain  of  our  investigations 
are  handled  is  now  a  very  hopeful  sign.  In  the  National  Electric 
Lamp  Association  we  find  something  like  2,000  men  on  development^ 
work,  600  of  them  being  highly  trained  technical  men.  The  American 
Telephone  and  Telegraph  Company  have  1,300  giving  their  time  to 
industrial  research.  In  the  Du  Pont  Company  we  find  there  are  nearly 
as  many  engaged  in  industrial  research,  and  in  many  other  corpora- 
tions large  bodies  of  scientific  men  constantly  at  work  trying  to  estab- 
lish principles  and  gain  knowledge  that  will  improve  process  and 
product. 

At  one  time  in  tlie  rapidly  changing  conditions  it  was  considered 
a  sign  of  weakness  to  acknowledge  that  things  were  not  as  they  ought 
to  be  and  to  spend  money  on  scientific  work. 

Public  service  corporations  who  meet  great  difficulty  in  steadily 
increasing  costs  and  fixed  rates  must  turn  to  scientific  work  to  find 
means  of  doing  an  increased  amount  of  work  more  efficiently.  As  an 
example  of  the  application  of  scientific  research  we  can  cite  the  long- 
distance telephone.  When  the  problem  was  to  talk  across  the  conti- 
nent there  were  two  methods  of  attack.  One  was  the  development  of 
a  special  instrument  with  a  loud  transmitter  for  long  distance  work; 
the  second  was  to  find  ways  to  use  the  instrument  now  installed.  The 
second  line  of  attack  was  folloM-ed  out  with  the  result  that  eventually 
the  working  radius  of  every  telephone  was  increased  a  thousand  fold 
without  changing  the  instrument,  while  the  first  method  would  have 
required  the  re-equipment  of  the  entire  telephone  system  of  the 
country. 

Research  activities  are  increasing  and  industries  are  employing 
the  very  best  research  men  they  can  possibly  find.    Today  the  cry  is 


164-  The  Forest  Pkoducts  Larokatoky 

for  better  trained  men  ratlier  tlian  merely  for  more  men  who  can  work 
along  scientific  lines.  This  is  another  very  hopeful  sign.  More  and 
more  fellowships  have  been  established  and  the  policy  of  establishing 
fellowships  can  be  encouraged  particularly  where  fundamental  re- 
search in  educational  institutions  is  concerned. 

The  associations  I  have  mentioned  number  something  like  twenty 
at  the  present  time.  The  National  Canners'  Association  today  is 
spending  as  much  on  one  problem  as  the  whole  laboratory  cost  at  the 
start.  They  have  found  industrial  research  a  very  wxll-paying  in- 
vestment. 

There  have  been  a  number  of  new  associations  founded  for  coop- 
erative research.  A  Plant  Protection  Institute  has  been  formed  to 
further  the  study  of  methods  for  controlling  injurious  insects  and 
plant  diseases. 

The  Petroleum  Institute  is  another  good  example  of  the  trend  of 
the  times,  and  I  might  also,  in  this  connection,  mention  the  support 
of  scientific  endeavor  along  fundamental  lines  by  individuals  who  have 
heretofore  directed  their  attention  more  toward  commercial  lines. 

However,  if  you  had  not  come  here  I  might  have  better  evidence 
that  you  need  conversion  to  the  cause  of  research.  The  fact  that  you 
are  here  to  attend  the  celebration  of  the  laboratory's  great  decade  of 
industrial  research  should  answer  for  you,  for  if  you  needed  any  argu- 
ment to  convert  you  to  research,  you  would  not  be  attending  the  birth- 
day party. 

Let  us  turn  for  a  moment  to  a  consideration  of  what  we  might  do 
to  strengthen  our  position  as  a  world  power  in  industrial  research.  I 
think  first  and  foremost  we  need  more  fundamentally  trained  men 
and  women  who  will  step  into  and  carry  on  industrial  research.  By 
fundamentally  trained  men  and  women,  I  mean  those  who  really  know 
the  various  sciences  involved  and  Avho  can  fit  into  any  need  as  do  the 
white  corpuscles  of  the  body.  As  you  know  white  corpuscles  can  be- 
come brain,  tissue,  bone,  etc. — whatever  the  need  may  he  at  the  time. 

If  industry  is  to  get  the  most  benefit  from  industrial  research,  I 
believe  it  to  be  essential  that  the  laboratory  be  made  just  as  important 
as  the  advertising  or  production  department.  I  think  such  a  depart- 
ment rightfully  becomes  a  part  of  the  organization,  but  that  does  not 
mean  that  such  firms  can  not  join  in  the  cooperative  solution  of  the 
fundamental  questions  of  science.     They  can  cooperate  on  such  com- 


A  Decennial  Record  165 


Dion  i^roblems  as  fuel  and  smoke  a})atenient.  Improved  working  con- 
ditions and  the  use  of  the  abnormal  individual  in  industry  are  other 
good  examples  of  cooperative  work  which  the  industries  can  undertake. 
The  industries  need  to  increase  the  number  of  unrestricted  fellowships, 
and  those  industries  that  have  profited  through  research  should  take 
steps  to  repay  tlie  debt  tliey  owe  educational  institutions.  I  do  not 
believe  in  doing  that  sim])ly  })y  adding  more  fellowsliips,  but  the  indus- 
tries ought  to  make  an  allowance  for  their  supervision. 

We  find  that  our  Government  laboratories  are  losing  their  best 
people  on  account  of  the  inability  to  pay  tliem  what  is  necessary  to 
relieve  them  of  financial  worry  and  to  keep  them  in  their  employ.  To 
discuss  it  further  is  useless;  as  Mark  Twain  said  of  the  weather,  "We 
talk  about  it  a  great  deal,  but  nothing  is  done".  It  becomes  very  dis- 
couraging in  many  universities  that  steps  are  not  taken  to  properly 
increase  the  remuneration  of  the  teachers.  This  is  one  of  the  largest 
and  greatest  outstanding  needs.  Xot  all  teachers  can  conduct  re- 
search, but  wherever  one  is  found,  he  should  be  relieved  of  teaching 
and  endowed  so  that  liis  time  can  be  spent  on  tliis  work.  Research 
should  ])e  fostered  in  educational  institutions  and  the  spirit  of  research 
encouraged  by  tlie  estal)lishment  of  research  professorships  and  more 
fellowships. 

The  direct  lielp  of  tlie  industries  to  the  government  laboratories 
has  been  stressed.  Adequate  appropriations  have  not  been  secured  for 
the  Forest  Products  I.a))oratory.  The  establishment  of  Advisory 
Committees  M'ho  can  consider  prol)lems  from  the  viewpoint  of  the  man 
who  must  eventually  make  the  proper  application  of  the  data  discov- 
ered should  be  encouraged.  I  believe  funds  for  the  direct  support  of 
the  types  of  research  in  which  each  industry  is  concerned  should  come 
from  the  groups  to  be  benefited  and  not  from  the  Government  alone. 
I  am  confident  when  industry  ])ays  directly  to  the  sunport  of  well 
establislied  researcli,  it  has  more  interest  and  is  far  more  liable  to  apply 
the  results  obtained.  Industry  should  be  })rought  to  realize  its  obliga- 
tion to  pay  its  debt  to  science  by  subscribing  regularly  a  percentage 
of  i)rofits  for  the  support  of  fundamental  research.  There  are  indus- 
tries where  people  are  still  living  on  tlie  ])rofits  u])on  investments  in 
brains  made  by  their  ancestors,  and  they  do  not  care  to  make  any  con- 
tributions themselves  to  industrial  research  for  their  descendants  to 
utilize.     I  am  sure  that  manv  of  the  industries  have  no  intention  of 


166  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

being  parasitic,  but  many  of  them  must  be  brought  to  realize  their  de- 
pendence on  science,  its  bearing  on  commerce  and  the  desirability  of 
doing  the  right  thing  to  promote  work  upon  fundamentals. 

Another  place  where  the  industries  can  help  is  in  the  publication 
of  bibliographies  which  are  not  properly  cared  for  at  present.  There 
are  many  people  who  cheerfully  support  other  forms  of  publication 
but  find  lists  and  bibliographies  unattractive,  even  though  they  are 
essential  for  scientific  work.  There  is  always  great  difficulty  in  getting 
sufficient  financial  backing  for  such  work,  and  yet  there  should  be  no 
delay  in  trying  to  find  out  from  time  to  time  what  has  been  done  and 
what  is  going  on.  The  public  as  the  ultimate  benefactor  of  all  this 
work  clearly  has  its  duty  to  perform  in  this  connection. 

That  it  is  the  public  to  which  we  must  look  is  shown  by  the  expe- 
rience at  the  Brunner-Mond  plant.  The  president  and  vice-president 
recently  recommended  that  100,000  pounds  (sterling)  be  devoted  to 
research  in  the  universities,  but  the  stockholders  who  had  already  re- 
ceived large  dividends  turned  down  this  suggestion  even  though  their 
business  depends  upon  science  for  its  existence  and  advancement. 

I  think  that  sort  of  thing  comes  from  the  lack  of  a  proper  under- 
standing of  science.  For  example,  an  advertisement  appeared  in  a 
recent  paper  offering  to  pay  a  satisfactory  cook  $2,500,  and  in  the  same 
service  there  was  also  an  opportunity  for  an  experienced  chemist  at 
$1,800,  and  a  laboratory  assistant  in  pathology  was  offered  $950.  I 
presume  we  must  have  good  cooks,  but  it  does  seem  that  a  trained  sci- 
entist should  ])e  worth  as  much.  The  support  of  the  government  lab- 
oratories by  the  public  at  large  is,  of  course,  for  the  benefit  of  us  all. 
Most  of  the  speeches  made  in  Congress  appear  to  be  designed  for  con- 
sumption by  the  people  back  home.  If  these  people  back  home  could 
only  be  convinced  that  we  must  have  and  spend  money  in  supporting 
scientific  work  in  their  interests,  as  Mr.  Everest  has  outlined,  I  am  sure 
it  would  be  rapidly  forthcoming  and  research  could  proceed  on  an  ade- 
quate scale. 

There  are  many  sciences  available  for  research  that  have  not  been 
called  upon  by  industry.  There  is,  for  instance,  the  great  group  of 
biological  sciences  with  which  industry  should  become  acquainted,  and 
we  can  render  service  by  introducing  the  two  parties  to  their  mutual 
advantage.  We  have  the. ability  in  this  country  to  do  the  proper  type 
of  industrial  research  which  will  keep  us  in  the  lead.     What  can  we 


A  Decennial  Record  1G7 

do  to  bring  about  the  improved  conditions  which  I  have  attempted  to 
describe? 

First  of  all,  we  can  work  through  our  various  scientific,  technical 
and  business  organizations.  We  can  work  in  many  instances  as  indi- 
viduals getting  the  story  to  others  more  effectively  at  times  than  can 
any  organization. 

All  the  great  organizations  in  natural  sciences  are  represented  in 
the  National  Research  Council  which  was  introduced  to  you  by  Pro- 
fessor jNIason  last  night.  The  Council  is  an  opportunity  for  coopera- 
tion in  science  and  a  clearing  house  for  research.  The  National  Re- 
search Council  is  not  a  government  organization,  but  enjoys  the  help 
of  the  Federal  bureaus  and  scientists.  It  has  a  wide  backing,  and 
large  funds  have  been  obtained  from  certain  foundations  and  indus- 
tries which  wish  to  help  in  carrying  on  this  work  of  encouragement 
and  stimulation.  The  money  for  cooperative  research  must  come  from 
those  who  will  be  benefited,  and  as  an  example  I  would  cite  the  sup- 
port of  the  committee  on  Forestry  by  the  Southern  Pine  Association. 
The  Council  has  a  deep  interest  in  all  phases  of  industries  based  on  the 
forest  and  its  products  and  invites  your  cooperation  and  your  use  of 
its  facilities. 

Whatever  else  the  war  has  done  for  us,  it  seems  to  me  that  it  has 
given  people  generally  a  little  bit  better  insight  into  M'hat  science  is, 
what  it  has  done,  and  what  it  can  do.  We  should  preach  research  to 
educational  industries,  to  individuals,  to  industries.  We  must  get  the 
support  required  for  tlie  research  that  will  keep  America  in  the  very 
forefront. 

Of  all  civilized  countries  we  have  the  greatest  responsibility  in 
using  our  great  reserves  of  natural  resources,  for  they  are  almost 
world  reserves.  True  conservation  is  based  on  intelligent  use,  and 
such  use  requires  knowledge  such  as  comes  only  from  research. 

The  Forest  Products  Laboratory  with  its  ten  years  of  creditable 
work  to  recommend  it  can  surely  look  forward  with  enthusiasm  to  the 
next  decade  during  which  time,  as  in  the  past,  it  will  do  its  share  in 
making  America's  place  unquestionably  in  the  lead. 


168  The  Forest  Products  Laijoratory 


Remarks  of  Mr.  Foleij  FoUotcing  Mr.  Hoxce's  Talk 

It  must  be  a  satisfaction  to  all  of  you  to  have  heard  that  the 
lumber  industry  does  not  hesitate  to  take  advantage  of  the  help  it  can 
get  from  industrial  research.  Those  of  us  who  were  privileged  to  be 
present  when  the  plans  of  the  Forest  Products  Laboratory  were  orig- 
inally talked  over  can  not  help  but  look  back  with  admiration  upon  the 
foresight  of  those  who  gave  the  incentive  to  this  wonderful  organi- 
zation. 

The  lumbermen  of  the  country  have  not  been  ready  to  acknowl- 
edge the  usefulness  of  the  foresters,  as  have  been  the  wood-using  in- 
dustries, on  account  of  the  work  done  at  the  laboratory.  However, 
there  has  been  no  group  of  men  who  have  more  earnestlj^  backed  up  the 
efforts  of  the  Forest  Products  I^al)oratory  and  the  Forest  Service  to 
get  the  money  necessary  to  prosecute  the  investigations  at  Madison 
tlian  have  the  lumbermen,  and  we  are  going  to  hear  some  of  the  prob- 
lems of  tlie  lumber  industry  presented  by  a  member  of  the  committee 
on  economics  of  the  IS'ational  Lumbermen's  Association.  It  is  very 
unfortunate  that  Mr.  Scanlon  who  was  scheduled  to  present  this 
paper  has  been  unable  to  come,  but  the  committee  on  arrangements 
were  exceedingly  fortunate  in  getting  in  his  stead,  at  the  eleventh 
hour,  a  gentleman  whose  wide  experience  amply  fits  him  to  cover  the 
subject  very  thoroughly.   I  take  pleasure  in  introducing  Mr.  Gilchrist. 


A    MlliACM-:    OK    CIIE.MISTRY— CoXVKK.SIOX    OK    SAWJJUST    INTO  STOCK  FOOl 


170  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

SOME   PROBLEMS   OF   THE   LUMBER  INDUSTRY 

TV.  A.  Gilchrist  J  National  Lumber  Manufacturers'  Association 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

This  is  a  pleasure  even  though  it  is  a  substitute  arrangement.  You 
know  Mr.  Scanlan  who  was  to  speak  is  a  prominent  and  successful 
lumberman  and  an  earnest  believer  in  this  activity,  and  it  is  my  regret 
that  he  was  not  able  to  be  here  to  present  this  problem  in  the  masterful 
manner  that  he  would. 

I  have  heard  some  of  my  friends  say  "By  all  means  say  something 
comphmentary  about  Madison".  I  heard  yesterday  our  good  friend 
Mr.  Weiss,  speak  of  the  bathing  facilities  afforded  in  the  vicinity.  I 
have  tried  them  all  and  I  can  say  that  after  an  early  morning  swim  in 
this  lake,  one  can  undertake  almost  any  obligation  in  connection  with 
the  problem  confronting  us. 

Our  industry  is  credited  as  being  the  largest  consumer  of  the 
products  of  the  forest.  Our  chief  forester,  Colonel  Greeley,  made  the 
statement  that  the  forest  gro^vth  is  but  one-fourth  of  the  normal  or 
annual  consumption. 

I  regret  being  compelled  to  make  this  statement,  but  it  seems  to  be 
the  consensus  of  public  opinion  that  the  average  lumberman  is  opposed 
to  a  federal,  or  forestry  policy.  I  hasten  to  correct  this  idea.  We  lum- 
bermen are  in  sympathy  with  any  reasonable  forest  policy.  It  is  a 
broad  problem  which  cannot  be  solved  by  the  theoretical  gentlemen,  the 
practical  ones,  or  the  technical  ones,  but  only  by  all  of  them  working 
cooperatively. 

I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  they  can  bring  forth  a  policy 
handling  this  most  important  problem  that  will  be  worth  our  while. 
We  must  bear  in  mind  that  we  need  a  conservative  one,  one  that  will 
endure  and  one  to  which  our  posterity  fifty  years  hence  will  say  "Well 
done".  That  is  our  spirit,  and  that  is  what  we  want  incorporated  in 
that  policy. 

We  lumbermen  insist  that  there  shall  be  provision  made  for  the 
proper  utilization  of  the  natural  stands  of  timber  by  economical  means. 
We  believe  that  the  opportunity  exists  for  the  handling  of  that  timber 


A  Decenxial  Record  171 

and  without  burdensome  restrictions.  Gentlemen,  it  affords  me  pleas- 
ure as  a  lumberman  to  make  that  statement,  and  I  trust  that  the  other 
lumbermen  of  my  acquaintance  appreciate  the  situation  and  will  go 
forth  and  spread  this  gospel  at  all  times. 

I  am  a  lumberman. 

The  definition  of  a  lumberman  as  commonly  understood  by  the 
public  is  one  who  maliciously  and  wantonly  destroys  the  forests. 

They  are  presumed  to  be  a  rough  set  of  men ;  men  without  char- 
acter. 

Being  frontier  men,  naturally  they  are  presumed  to  be  devoid  of 
the  niceties  that  go  to  make  life  worth  living,  an  uneducated  class. 
Their  mathematics  are  presumed  to  be  sadly  neglected.  Even  as  much 
as  in  the  case  of  my  early  acquaintance,  Capt.  Jack  Downer,  a  master 
of  a  lake  lumber  cargo  steamer.  In  the  early  days  of  the  lumber  indus- 
try, in  the  vicinity  of  the  Great  Lakes,  small  steamers  were  used  to 
transport  the  cargoes  of  lumber  from  point  of  manufacture  to  the 
lower  lake  ports,  the  points  of  consumption.  Upon  departure  from 
tlie  port  of  loading,  a  document  was  handed  to  the  ship's  master  indi- 
cating the  quantity  of  lumber  and  the  freight  rate  per  thousand  feet 
expressed  in  shillings.  The  cargo  upon  this  particular  voyage  con- 
sisted of  392,782  feet  of  lumber  at  a  rate  of  13  shillings.  Captain 
Jack's  early  education  had  been  much  neglected.  The  period  of  the 
voyage  was  three  days.  In  order  to  determine  the  amount  of  freiglit 
money  to  be  collected,  the  captain  spent  all  of  the  three  days  in  a  vain 
effort  to  determine  the  sum.  No  two  computations  resulted  ahke, 
and  as  the  voyage  was  nearing  completion,  with  the  table  in  front  of 
him  covered  with  bits  of  paper  in  his  effort  to  arrive  at  this  result,  in 
exasperation  Captain  Jack  beat  the  table  forcibly  with  his  fist  and  ex- 
claimed, "Why  in  h— 1  don't  they  make  these  rates  $1.00  or  $2.00  so 
that  a  man  can  figure  them". 

Wastes  were  excessive  in  the  harvesting  of  the  forest,  the  me- 
clianical  appliances  were  likewise  destructive  and  wasteful  about  the 
mills.  But,  gentlemen,  bear  in  mind  that  the  lumber  business,  no  dif- 
ferent from  any  other  commercial  industry,  is  an  economic  problem, 
and  failure  confronts  it  if  pursued  in  any  other  manner. 

Within  my  memory,  the  early  lumberman  was  unable  to  indulge 
himself  in  any  of  the  modern  luxuries — his  food  was  of  a  substantial 
character,  ])ut  consisted  principally  of  beans  and  salt  pork — for  the 


172  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 


reason  that  the  profits  were  such  as  did  not  permit  of  more.  The  early, 
successful  lumberman  was  a  student  of  economics  in  his  own  way,  and 
those  who  were  not  failed.  The  successful  ones  interpreted  the  term, 
"merchantable" — that  which  could  be  harvested  at  a  profit — accu- 
rately, and  there  are  many  instances  of  financial  disaster  of  those  who 
failed  to  comprehend. 

The  term  "lumber  king"  and  "lumber  baron"  were  earned  only 
by  those  who  deserved  it,  and  came  only  to  those  with  foresight,  wis- 
dom, and  above  all,  with  the  ability  to  discern  the  economics  of  the 
problem. 

The  term,  "merchantable",  is  a  variable  one  in  the  classification 
of  either  timber  or  its  products.  It  differs  at  this  date  from  that  of 
thirty  years  ago ;  it  differs  today  as  to  localities ;  for  instance,  low  qual- 
ity timber  classed  as  mecliantable  in  the  state  of  Xew  York  would  likely 
be  classed  as  being  below  that  term  in  the  states  of  Texas  or  California, 
namely,  unprofitable  to  harvest.  Therefore,  care  must  be  taken  in 
discussing  problems  of  our  industry,  as  they  are  purely  problems  of 
economics. 

Other  industries  possess  the  same  and  similar  problems.  Gold 
mining  in  the  West  was  no  exception.  Witness  the  tailing  piles  of 
these  early  mines  being  worked  by  Chinamen.  The  famous  Black  Hill 
gold  mining  district  of  the  Dakotas,  a  low  valued  ore  for  years,  wasted 
a  value  of  eighty  cents  per  ton  in  tailing,  when  their  raw  material  was 
presumed  to  carry  but  some  $2.30,  as  it  was  more  economical  to  return 
to  the  raw  material  supply  than  attempt  too  great  an  extraction.  The 
sugar  producer  permits  a  waste  of  two  to  four  per  cent  of  sucrose  and 
replenishes  with  raw  material. 

I  retired  from  the  lumber  business  and  for  some  years  engaged  in 
the  production  of  sugar.  In  one  employment  I  had  a  preceptor,  a  gen- 
tleman trained  in  the  Eiu-opean  school  of  economics,  a  most  competent 
sugar  man.  One  day  in  discussing  our  problems,  he  stated,  "Gilchrist, 
I  was  15  years  in  learning  American  methods  of  sugar  manufacture". 
The  explanation  M'as  based  upon  low  Eiuropean  wages  and  high  cost 
of  raw  material  compared  to  high  American  wages  and  low  cost  of  raw 
material.    It  is  a  simple  problem  in  economics. 

A  number  of  years  ago.  when  this  wonderful  Forest  Service  was 
organized,  young  men  representing  this  institution  appeared  before 
us  lumbermen  at  our  conventions.     These  young  men  upon  all  occa- 


A  Decennial  Record  173 

sions  were  most  affable,  and  they  frequently  addressed  us.  We  in- 
dulged them.  We  were  good  natured.  Some  of  the  statements  made 
by  these  young  college  men — always  good  looking  and  enthusiastic 
chaps — we  poor  lumbermen  engaged  in  wallering  logs  from  the 
swamps  envied  them,  for  sure  they  possessed  a  degree  from  some  uni- 
versity as  foresters,  and,  therefore,  we  solicited  their  advice — but — 
some  of  the  proposals  made  by  these  young  men  were  interesting  at 
least — but  blamed  impractical.  Frefjuently  they  indulged  in  predic- 
tions as  to  the  financial  outcome  of  our  industry;  on  some  occasions 
they  indulged  in  comments  indicating  that  portions  of  our  industry 
could  fairly  be  classified  as  profiteering  were  w^e  to  advance  the  price 
of  our  commodity. 

I  am  free  to  admit  that  many  lumbermen  considered  the  com- 
ments of  some  of  these  young  foresters  as  right  impertinent.  I  Avish 
some  of  these  young  men,  after  an  experience  of  some  fifteen  years, 
would  review  their  notes  of  these  addresses,  and,  of  course  to  them- 
selves, conclude  M-hat  changes  they  Avould  make  in  the  advice  offered 
at  that  particular  time. 

The  evolution  was  and  is  as  my  sugar  friend  explained — Ameri- 
can industry  can  not  be  conducted  upon  European  principles.  The 
forester's  training  is  by  European  instruction  or  its  influence  upon 
such  instruction.  Required — American  instructions  applicable  to 
American  industry. 

I  offer  a  ray  of  hope.  The  modern  American  lumberman  while 
a  frontierman  of  necessity,  for  timber  is  only  available  in  such  vicini- 
ties in  the  main,  has  himself  develo])ed.  At  least  25  per  cent  and 
possibly  40  per  cent  of  the  present  generation  of  lumbermen  of  my 
acquaintance  who  are  directing  a  modern  lumber  business  are  college 
men.  While  sucli  training  is  not  of  prime  necessity  to  the  success  of 
the  lumber  business,  it  indicates  a  ty])e  of  man  whose  ])rain  is  ])resumed 
to  have  been  afforded  an  o])portimity  to  develop.  Therefore,  these 
men,  usually  being  ones  of  influence,  should  be  more  receptive  to  prob- 
lems required  in  the  advance  of  our  industry. 

Certain  activities  of  this  wonderful  institution,  the  Forest  Prod- 
ucts I.,aboratory,  are  attracting  the  earnest  attention  of  members  of 
our  industry.  Being  engaged  in  the  commercial  side  of  the  lumber 
business,  I  hear  comments  of  the  most  favorable  nature,  that  I  fear  do 
not  come  to  the  ears  of  those  sincere  men  engaged  in  directing  this 


174  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

activity.  The  packing  box  investigation  is  of  inestimable  value.  The 
problems  associated  with  the  seasoning  of  lumber  are  so  far  reaching 
that  it  in  itself  is  a  subject  for  discussion  that  would  engage  attention 
indefinitely.  However,  these  are  problems  of  the  products  of  the  for- 
ests only. 

There  is  another  field  of  activity  that  requires  exploitation.  It  has 
to  do  with  the  prevention  of  wastes  and  the  use  of  the  unpreventable 
wastes — if  there  be  any.  Many  lumbermen  believe  that  the  policy  of 
harvesting  the  mature  stands  of  timber,  by  the  most  economical  means, 
at  this  time  or  as  soon  as  possible,  is  proper.  The  imposition  of  burden- 
some restrictions  that  retard  such  a  pohcy  we  believe  to  be  uneco- 
nomical. 

To  a  degree  this  is  a  mechanical  problem.  Our  industry  has  been 
classed,  and  rightfully  so,  as  a  mechanically  progressive  industry.  The 
development  has  been  directed  along  the  lines  of  labor-saving  devices. 
The  success  of  such  development  is  observed  in  the  sawmill  proper, 
where  particularly  laborious  tasks  have  been  eliminated.  However, 
there  remain  certain  tasks  which  are  particularly  laborious  in  certain 
portions  of  our  operations,  and  I  will  touch  upon  some  of  these  later. 
We  have,  however,  as  an  industry,  neglected  mechanical  develop- 
ment M^hich  tends  to  reduce  waste. 

It  is  indicated  by  surveys  of  some  specific  branches  of  lumber 
production  that  about  one-third  of  the  cubic  contents  of  the  tree  ulti- 
mately reaches  the  form  of  lumber.  Some  seven  per  cent  of  loss  occurs 
in  the  form  of  stumps.  Another  seventeen  per  cent  occurs  in  the  me- 
chanical losses  of  sawdust  and  shavings.  These  three  items  of  losses 
are  worthy  of  attack. 

A  survey  of  a  yellow  pine  operation  indicated  that  there  existed 
a  preventable  loss  of  an  amount  of  450  feet  per  acre,  or  approximately 
two  per  cent  of  the  original  stand  of  timber  on  this  area.  This  was 
preventable  by  severing  the  stump  at  a  line  six  inches  above  the  ground 
level.  A  premium  was  offered  the  woodsmen  who  did  this  cutting  to 
encourage  them  to  reduce  this  stump  height,  explaining  to  them  that 
they  too  were  indirectly  interested  in  the  perpetuation  of  the  life  of  the 
sawmill  institution,  and  by  so  doing  an  additional  amount  of  some 
300,000  feet  of  timber  might  be  removed  from  each  section  of  land  cut. 
This  method  of  cutting  is  most  laborious.  Men  must  crouch  in  an 
awkward  position.    Many  of  the  men  objected,  in  spite  of  the  induce- 


A  Decennial  Record  175 


ments  offered.    I  pay  tribute  to  the  proprietor  of  this  business  who 
perfected  this  seemingly  shght  economy,  for  the  obstacles  were  many.. 

There  exists  no  mechanism  that  accomphshes  this  task  to  perfec- 
tion, the  common  and  principal  fault  being  a  lack  of  portability  of  such 
machines  as  are  now  available,  due  to  excess  weight.  The  task  that 
confronts  us  is  one  of  mere  engineering — to  establish  rules  covering 
the  creation  of  suitable  mechanism. 

Who  better  can  accomphsh  this  than  an  engineer  cooperating  with 
the  woodsmen? 

^  Funds  in  hmited  quantities  are  available  for  the  establishment  of 
a  piece  of  mechanism  to  assist  in  the  inquiry  into  the  possibilities  of 
circular  saws.  This  is  being  conducted  by  the  National  Lumber  Man- 
ufacturers' Association.  The  excessive  saw  kerf  in  the  apparatus  used 
in  certain  required  operations  about  the  sawmill  is  well  known.  A 
sawmill  operation  is  a  commercial  institution  and  can  poorly  serve  as 
an  experimental  laboratory.  It  is  common  knowledge  that  certain  re- 
cently developed  alloys  in  steel  have  solved  many  manufacturing  prob- 
lems in  the  metal  tool  trades— in  our  own  industry  in  the  planing  mill. 
The  planing  mill  equipment  of  ten  or  twelve  years  ago  is  now  obsolete. 
The  manufacturers  of  saws  have  been  limited  in  their  possible  experi- 
ment and  development,  for  present  sawmill  equipment  prohibited 
experimenting.  The  factor  of  speeds  of  cutting  points,  an  important 
element  in  production,  was  defined ;  the  human  element  likewise  is  in- 
volved, having  to  do  with  the  care  and  sharpening  (filing)  of  saws. 

The  saw  manufacturer  is  hedged  in  by  the  steel  manufacturer, 
the  sawmill  machinery  builder,  and  the  sawmill  operator.  Without 
the  cooperation  of  all  of  these,  no  progress  can  be  made. 

It  is  proposed  to  install  equipment  for  experimental  purposes  of 
a  type  where  speeds  are  available  to  a  degree  that  does  not  now  exist 
in  commercial  mechanism.  The  saw  manufacturer,  the  steel  producer, 
the  metallurgist  are  invited  to  investigate  and  cooperate  in  these  de- 
velopments. They  are  responding  with  a  will,  and  so  the  sawmill  ma- 
chinery builder  and  the  lumber  producer  hope  for  progress. 

It  is  to  be  desired  that  the  progress,  for  the  present  at  least  is  to 
be  in  the  direction  of  reclaiming  some  of  these  losses  attributed  to  saw- 
dust, and  not  in  increased  capacities.  This  problem  is  merely  one  of 
economics.  It  must  be  made  a  profitable  one.  Therefore,  with  this 
in  mind,  a  survey  of  such  losses,  their  allocations,  and  whether  they  are 


^'^^  '^'i"'^  FoKEST  Pkoducts  Lahoratory 


of  a  preventable  nature  should  be  made.  This  should  be  followed  bv  -i 
later  survey  to  determine  if  they  still  exist  after  the  introduction  of 
mechanism  that  is  to  be  developed  to  utilize  them  in  some  ])rofitable 
manner. 

This  is  a  momentous  problem  and  one  that  manufacturino-  lum- 
bermen and  stumpage  owners  should  pay  for.  for  they  alone  benefit 
dn-ectly  thereby.  I  submit  to  you  gentlemen  this  statement  of  condi- 
tions, and  ask  for  your  sincere  assistance  in  support  of  an  activity  to 
spread  this  information  to  the  lumbermen  themselves,  for  "If  there  be 
any  criticism  to  be  passed  upon  the  lumbermen  it  is  that  they  have  kept 
their  achievements  too  much  to  themselves.  Thev  have  been  satisfied 
to  make  a  large  amount  of  worthless  land  extremely  valuable,  and  have 
not  taken  the  trouble  to  explain  their  work  to  the  people  at  large.  This 
IS  a  period  of  great  publicity  and  large  advertising,  and  the  lumber 
industry  must  realize  this  fact  in  order  to  keep  abreast  of  the  times" 
This  quotation,  substituting  the  name  of  lumbermen  for  iron  ore 
miners,  is  from  a  poblic  document  treating  of  iron  ore  deposits  in  the 
state  of  Minnesota,  and  indicates  the  pleasant  relations  that  exist  be- 
tween commercial  and  technical  branches  of  this  particular  industry, 
and  is  a  sentiment  that  I  wish  might  be  encouraged  and  intensified  be- 
tween the  practical  lumbermen  and  the  technical  division  of  the  forest 
products  industry. 


APPEXDIX 


REGISTRATION    LIST 

Forest  Products  Laboratory  Decennial  Celebration,  Madison, 
Wisconsin,  July  22  and  23,  1920 

Ackerman,  E.  D.,  Waterproof  Adhesives  Co.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Adams,  F.  R.,  Pacific  Lumber  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

7\lexander,  John  E.,  Nekoosa-Edwards  Paper  Co.,  Port  Edwards, 
Wis. 

Alexander,  John  E.,  Mrs.,  Port  Edwards,  Wis. 

Alexander,  L.  M.,  Pres.,  Nekoosa-Edwards  Paper  Co.,  Port  Ed- 
wards, Wis. 

Alexander,  L.  M.,  Mrs.,  Port  Edwards,  Wis. 

Altman,  N.  A.,  J.  W.  Butler  Paper  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Anderson,  W.  R.,  Publisher,  "Packages",  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

iVngier,  F.  J.,  Baltimore  &  Ohio  R.  R.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Babbitt,  W.  C,  Gen.  Sec'y.,  Xatl.  Assn.  of  Wood  Turners,  South 

Bend,  Ind. 
Baker,  John  S.,  Baker  Mfg.  Co.,  Evansville,  Wis. 
Baker,  Wm.  B.,  Secy.,  Nat'l  Assn.  Chair  Mfgrs.,  Chicago,  111. 
Barr,  H.  G.,  J.  I.  Case  Co.,  Racine,  Wis. 
Barth,  Kurt,  Barrett  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 
Bartle,  F.  C,  Mrs.,  Madison,  Wis. 
Bartle,  Gladys.  Madison,  Wis. 
Bartle,  Vernetta.  Madison,  Wis. 
Bauer,  Carl,  Doesch  t^  Bauer  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 
Belknap,  G.  F.,  Aeroshade  Co.,  Waukesha,  Wis. 
Birge,  E.  A.,  Pres.,  University  of  Wisconsin,  Madison.  Wis. 
Bitting,  A.  W..  Dr.,  Glass  Containers  Assn.,  Chicago,  111. 
Blackburn,  Robert,  Wilbur  Lumber  Co.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 
Blanco,  J.  P..  San  Juan,  Porto  Rico. 

Boehme,  E.  E.,  International  Creosoting  Co..  Galveston,  Tex. 
Boettcher,  Albert  E.,  Milwaukee  Chair  Co.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


180  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

Bolz,  H.  C,  Bolz  Cooperage  Corp.,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Eolz,  P.  T.,  Pres.,  Bolz  Cooperage  Corp.,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Brandenburg,  O.  D.,  Pres.,  Democrat  Printing  Co.;  Mng.  Editor, 

Madison  Democrat,  Madison,  Wis. 
Brantingham,  C.  S.,  Emerson-Brantingham  Co.,  Rockford,  111. 
Brantingham,  C.  S.,  Mrs.,  Rockford,  111. 

Bray.  Chas.  P.,  Baggage  Mfg.  Assn.,  Conway  Bldg.,  Cliicago,  111. 
Bremer,  G.  B.,  J.  J.  Fitzpatrick  Lumber  Co.,  3Iadison,  Wis. 
Brown,  H.  H.,  Pejepscott  Paper  Co.,  Brunswick.  IMaine. 
Bryant,  R.  C,  Yale  University,  New  Haven.  Conn. 
Buckstaff,  R.  N.,  Buckstaff  Co.,  Oshkosh,  Wis. 
Buehler,  Walter,  Barrett  Co.,  New  York.  X.  Y. 
Burgess,  C.  F.,  Pres.,  C.  F.  Burgess  Laboratory.  INIadison,  Wis. 
Burgess,  Mrs.  C.  F.,  Madison,  Wis. 

Card,  J.  B.,  Central  Creosoting  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Caswell,  A.  B.,  Pfister  k  Vogel  Leather  Co.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Chapman,  Arnold,  International  Alcohol  Corp.,  Xew  York,  N.  Y. 

Cheyney,  E.  G.,  LTniversity  of  Minnesota,  St.  Paul,  Minn.  (Chief, 
Division  of  Forestry) . 

Clark.  Allen  W.,  American  Car  &  Foundry  Co.,  Jeffersonville,  Ind. 

Clark,  Mrs.  Allen  W.,  Jeffersonville.  Ind. 

Clark,  W.  A.,  Chief  Engr.,  Duluth  &  Superior  R.  R.,  Duluth,  Minn. 

Clausen,  F.  H.,  Van  Brunt  Mfg.  Co..  Horicon,  Wis. 

Compton,  Wilson,  Sec.-Mgr.,  National  Lumber  Mfgrs.  Assn.,  Chi- 
cago, 111. 

Cone,  A.  B.,  "Lumber  World  Review",  Chicago,  111. 

Conrad,  Elizabeth,  Madison,  Wis. 

Conzet,  G.  M.,  Fire  Inspector,  State  of  ^linnesota,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

Cooper,  R.  E.,  Spanish  River  Pulp  &  Paper  Co.,  Soo,  Ontario. 

Cornell,  Her])ert  W.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Corry,  W.  J.,  Foster  Creek  Lumber  &  Mfg.  Co.,  Madison,  Wis. 

Cox,  W.  T.,  State  Forester,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

Coye,  C.  W.,  Industrial  Specialist,  Grand  Rapids,  INIich. 

Crawford,  Carl  G.,  American  Creosoting  Co.,  Louisville.  Ky. 

Curtis,  C.  E.,  Wisconsin  Cabinet  &  Panel  Co.,  New  London,  Wis. 

Cushman,  R.  E.,  Northwestern  Timber  Co.,  ^lendota,  111. 


A  Decennial  Record  181 

Dalil,  R.  D.,  Shevlin,  Carpenter  &  Clarke,  ^Minneapolis.  ]\Iinn. 

Dana,  S.  T..  U.  S.  Forest  Service,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Davies,  Luther,  Oshkosh,  Wis.  (lAuiiberman). 

Defebaugh,  Carl  W.,  "American  Lumberman",  Chicago,  111. 

Demartini,  F.,  Sec,  Baggage  Mfgr.  Assn.,  Conway  Bldg.,  Chicago, 

111. 
Dudley,  J.  E.,  :Madison,  Wis. 
Dudley,  J.  E.,  Mrs.,  Madison,  Wis. 

Dumond,  Louis  A.,  Chicago  Assn.  of  Commerce,  Chicago,  111. 
Dunlap,  Frederick,  University  of  Missouri,  Columbia,  ]Mo. 

Esau,  Ralph,  Barrett  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Everest,  D.  C,  Secv.  and  Gen.  INIgr.,  Marathon  Paper  Co.,  Wausau, 
Wis. 

Fitzpatrick,  J.  J.,  J.  J.  Fitzpatrick  Lumber  Co.,  Madison,  Wis. 

Foley,  John,  Pennsylvania  R.  R.  Co.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Frantz,  S.  G.,  Crossett  Lumber  Co.,  Crossett,  Ark. 

Fredrickson,  E.  A.,  Virginia  &  Rainy  Lake  Co.,  Mimieapolis,  Minn. 

Fredrickson,  S.  D.,  A.  D.  &  J.  V.  Fredrickson  Lumber  Co.,  Madison,, 

Wis. 
Frick,  O.  H.,  :Milwaukee,  Wis. 
Fuller,  L.  E..  Editor,  "The  lAimber  &  Veneer  Consumers",  Chicago, 

111. 
Furlong,  Edward,  "Packages",  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Gilchrist,  W.  A.,  National  Lumber  Mfgrs.  Assn.,  Chicago,  111. 
Goodman,  R.  B.,  R.  B.  Goodman  Lbr.  Co.,  Marinette,  Wis. 
Goshnes,  C.  E.,  D.  L.  &  W.  Railroad,  Paterson,  X.  J. 
Grady,  W.  H.,  American  Creosoting  Co.,  Louisville,  Ky. 
Graves,  L.  W.,  J.  P.  Devine  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Greeley,  W.  B.,  Forester.  L^.  S.  Forest  Service,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Green,  George  R.,  Pennsylvania  State  College  of  Forestry,  State  Col- 
lege, Pa. 
Greider,  C.  E.,  B.  F.  Sturtevant  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 
Greider,  C  E.,  Mrs.,  Chicago.  111. 
Grow,  J.  H.,  Allis-Chalmers  :SIfg.  Co.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


182  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

Gullickson,  O.,  Pres.,  Chicago  Furniture  Assn.;  also  Churchill  Cabi- 
net Co.,  Chicago,  111. 
Gulhckson,  S.,  Churchill  Cabinet  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Hamilton,  C.  L.,  Weyerhauser  Forest  Products  Co.,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

Hanson,  Adolph,  J.  I.  Case  Co.,  Racine,  Wis. 

Harder,  Geo.  N.,  Eib  Lake  Lumber  Co.,  Rib  Lake,  Wis. 

Harrington,  C.  L.,  Wisconsin  Conservation  Comm.,  Madison,  Wis. 

Hemingway,  E.  E.,  Wisconsin  Timber  &  Land  Co.,  Mattoon,  Wis. 

Hendricks,  Mr.,  Madison,  Wis. 

Henning,  S.  B.,  Anderson-Tully  Co.,  Memphis,  Tenn. 

LEenrv,  A.  T.,  Morgan  Co.,  Oshkosh,  Wis. 

Henry,  G.  E.,  Editor,  "Barrel  &  Box",  Chicago,  111. 

Hickey,  E.  H.,  Sec.-Treas.,  "Packages",  jNIilwaukee,  Wis. 

Hirt,  J.  F.,  Vice-Pres.,  Management  Service  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Hogue,  C.  J.,  West  Coast  Lumbermans'  Assn.,  New  York  City. 

Holbrook,  L.  W.,  Asst.  Treas.,  Shevlin  Co.,  Minneapohs,  Minn. 

Holderness,  Robert  M.,  Bain  Wagon  Co.,  Kenosha,  Wis. 

Honnell,  F.  IL,  AVilson  &  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Horn,  S.  F.,  Editor,  "Southern  Lumberman",  Xashville,  Tenn. 

Hosford,  Roger  S.,  American  Tel.  &  Tel.  Co.,  Xew  York,  N.  Y. 

Hosmer,  Ralph  S.,  Dept.  of  Forestry,  Cornell  L^niv.,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

How,  H.  W.,  J.  P.  Devine  Co.,  Buffalo.  X.  Y. 

Howard,  H.  C,  National  Assn.  of  Box  Mfgrs.,  Chicago,  111. 

Howe,  H.  E.,  National  Research  Council,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Howson,  E.  T.,  "Railway  Maintenance  Engineer",  Chicago,  111. 

Hoyt.  H.  B.,  Supt.,  Timber  Preserving  Plant,  B.  R.  &  P.  Railroad, 

'  Bradford,  Pa. 
Hubbard,  C.  W.,  Pres.,  Northwestern  Timl^er  Co.,  Mendota,  111. 
Hurd,  N.  L.,  Mid-West  Box  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Imrie,  J.  E.,  Cutler  Desk  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Imrie,  J.  E.,  Mrs.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Jackson,  Carl  D.,  Railroad  Commission,  INIadison,  Wis. 
Johnson,  B.  A.,  Editor,  "Lum])er  World  Review",  Chicago,  111. 
Jones.  B.  W.,  Lawyer,  Madison,  Wis. 
Jones,  Mrs.  B.  W.,'Madison,  Wis. 


A  Decennial  Record  183 

Jones,  G.  W.,  Appleton,  Wis. 

Jones,  J.  E.,  Southern  Pine  Assn.,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Jones,  T.  E.,  Athletic  Director,  Univ.  of  Wisconsin,  Madison,  Wis. 

Joyce,  A.  R.,  Joyce-Watkins  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Judd,  Roy,  Oxford,  Wis. 

Karges,  E.  F.,  Karges  Furniture  Co.,  Evansville,  Ind. 

Keig,  J.  R.,  Treating  Inspector,  A.  T.  &  S.  F.  R.  R.,  Chicago,  111. 

Keith,  L.  P.,  National  Ebr.  Mfgrs.  Assn.,  Chicago,  111. 

Kelly,  T.  E.,  Madison,  Wis. 

Keyser,  Henry,  Western  Grip  k  Trunk  Co.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Kimberly,  H.  H.,  Morgan  Co.,  Oshkosh,  Wis. 

Kittridge,  J.  Jr.,  Forest  Service,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Knowlton,  H.  A.,  Reed  College,  Portland,  Ore. 

Kraber,  G.  L.,  Turbine  Air  Tool  Co.,  Cleveland,  Oliio. 

Krafft,  V.  W.,  Sec,  Associated  Cooperage  Industries  of  America, 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Krenz,  M.  B..  :Mrs.,  Chicago,  111. 

Lamb,  Geo.  N.,  American  Walnut  Mfgrs.  Assn.,  Chicago,  111. 
Landstrom,  O.  E.,  Rockford  Veneer  &  Panel  Co.,  Rockford,  111. 
Leicester,  W.  F.,  Casein  Glue  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 
Lemke,  O.  C,  Underwood  Veneer  Co.,  Wausau,  Wis. 
Leopold,  Fredrick,  Leopold  Desk  Co.,  Burlington,  Iowa. 
I>ester,  S.  A.,  Doyon  &  Rayne  Lumber  Co.,  Madison,  Wis. 
I^ong,  H.  A.,  Automotive  Wood  Wheel  Mfgrs.  Assn.,  Chicago,  111. 
Lovejoy,  P.  S.,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 
Lunenschloss,  L.  L.,  Foster  Creek  Lbr.  &  Mfg.  Co.,  Madison,  Wis. 

MacLean,  ^M.  31.,  Chief  Chemist,  Dodge  INIfg.  Co.,  Mishawaka,  Wis. 

Mallen,  H.,  H.  Z.  ^Mallen  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

]\Iandenl)erg,  E.  C,  Barrett  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Marscliall,  A.  J.,  ]Marscliall  Dairy  Laboratory,  INIadison,  Wis. 

Martin,  Gus,  Doesch  &  Bauer  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Mason,  INIax,  University  of  Wisconsin,  Madison,  Wis. 

Mason,  ]Mrs.  3Iax,  Madison,  Wis. 

^laurer,  E.  R..  University  of  Wisconsin,  Madison,  Wis. 

JNIauthe,  Wm.,  Casket  :Mfg.  Assn.  of  the  U.  S.,  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis. 


184  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

Maxwell,  Hu,  "American  Lumberman",  Chicago,  111. 

McCaffrey,  jNL  E.,  University  of  Wisconsin,  Madison,  Wis. 

McCullough,  E.  W.,  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  the  U.  S.  A.,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

McKeever,  Francis  H.,  4-Ones  Wirebound  Box  Mfgrs.  Assn.,  Chi- 
cago, III. 

McLarsen,  A.,  Alfred  Decker  &  Cohn,  Chicago,  111. 

McLoughhn,  J.  M.,  Gen.  Mgr.,  Wisconsin  Cabinet  &  Panel  Co.,  New 
London,  AVis. 

McNair,  C.  J.,  Jr.,  Northwest  Paper  Co.,  Cloquet,  Minn. 

Mead,  Geo.  W.,  Pres.,  Consohdated  Water  Power  &  Paper  Co., 
Grand  Rapids,  Wis. 

Meeker,  E.  W.,  Editor,  "Hardwood  Record",  Chicago,  111. 

Meeker,  E.  W.,  Mrs.,  Chicago,  111. 

Merritt,  L.  G.,  Merritt  Engineering  &  Sales  Co.,  Lockport,  N.  Y. 

Merritt,  L.  G.,  Mrs.,  Lockport,  N.  Y. 

Miller,  R.  B.,  State  Forester,  Urbana,  111. 

Moak,  E.  R.,  Managing  Editor,  Wisconsin  State  Journal,  Madison, 

Wis.  ,;  ^'     ! 

Moon,  Franklin,  Syracuse  University,  Syracuse,  X.  Y. 

Moronej^  Robert  E.,  Dallas,  Texas. 

Morris,  Fred  H.,  Union  Cedar  Co.,  Toledo,  Ohio. 

Morris,  Leslie,  Chicago  Mill  &  Lumber  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

JNIowry,  Don  E.,  Sec,  Madison  Assn.  of  Commerce,  Madison,  Wis. 

Nichol,  F.  M.,  Turbine  Air  Tool  Co.,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Norberg,  Elizabeth,  Portland,  Ore. 

Osborne,  A.  L.,  Oshkosh,  Wis.  (Xatl  Lbr.  :Mfgrs.  Assn.). 

Paul,  C.  E.,  Construction  Engineer.  National  Lbr.  ]Mfgrs.  Assn..  Chi- 
cago, 111. 

Tesivy,  Geo.  W.,  Dean,  School  of  Forestry,  Oregon  Agric.  College, 
Corvallis,  Ore. 

Peery,  Thomas  D.,  Grand  Rapids  Veneer  Works.  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich. 

Peters,  T.  G.,  Forest  Service,  Washington,  D.  C. 


A  Decenxial  Recoed  185 

Pettiboiie.  G.  D.,  Xational  Assn.  of  Upholstered  Furniture  Mfgrs., 

Chicago,  111. 
Philipp,  E.  L..  Governor,  Commonwealth  of  Wisconsin,  Madison, 

A\^is. 
Pratt,  C.  A.,  Tucoma.  Wash. 

Prien.  J.  C,  Passenger  Agent,  C,  M.  &  St.  P.  Ry.,  Madison,  Wis. 
Pullen,  King  H.,  Southern  Pine  Assn.,  Xew  Orleans,  La. 

Quinn,  D.  L.,  Chicago  Mill  &  Lumber  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Quinn,  D.  L.,  Mrs.,  Chicago,  111. 

Quisna,  C.  L.,  Weyerhauser  Forest  Products,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

Padsch,  R.  M.,  Thilmany  Pulp  &  Paper  Co.,  Kaukauna.  Wis. 
Rayne,  Fred  W.,  Doyon  &  Rayne  Lumber  Co.,  ^Madison,  Wis. 
Redman,  Kenneth,  B.  F.  Sturtevant  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 
Reiff,  E..  Casket  Mfgrs.  Assn.  of  of  America,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 
Rhodes,  E.  R.,  Standard  Furniture  Co.,  Herkimer.  X.  Y. 
Rhodes,  J.  E.,  Southern  Pine  Assn.  Xew  Orleans,  La. 
Rice.  Claude  H.,  3Iilwaukee  Chair  Co..  ^Milwaukee,  Wis. 
Robinson,  B.  B.,  Hayes  lona  Co.,  lona,  Mich. 

Sackett,  H.  S.,  Asst.  Purchasing  Agent.  Chi.,  :\Iilw.  k  St.  Paul,  Chi- 
cago, 111. 

Salt,  W.  S.,  Container  Club,  Chicago.  111. 

Sameit,  H.  J.,  Acting  Sec,  Xational  Implement  &  Vehicle  Assn., 
Chicago,  111. 

Sassey,  F.  L.,  J.  J.  Fitzpatrick  Lumber  Co.,  Madison,  Wis. 

Schmid.  R.  V..  Kimberley-Clarke  Co..  Xeenah,  Wis. 

Schmidt,  H.,  Elgin  Butter  Tub  Co.,  Elgin,  111. 

Schorger,  A.  W.,  Chemist,  C.  F.  Burgess  Laboratories.  Madison, 
Wis. 

Schorger,  Mrs.  A.  W..  Madison,  Wis. 

Schuette,  Henry,  University  of  Wisconsin,  Madison,  Wis. 

Schuh,  J.  P.,  Pres.,  Schuh-ISIason  Lumber  Co.,  Cairo,  111. 

Schuh.  Julius,  Mrs.,  Cairo.  111. 

Schuh,  Margaret.  Cairo,  111. 

Schulte.  W.  B..  C.  F.  Burgess  Laboratories,  Madison,  Wis. 

Schultz,  Marie,  Chicago,  111. 


186  The  Forest  Products  Laboratory 

Schultz,  Otto,  Pres.,  National  Piano  Mfgrs.  Assn.  of  America,  Chi- 
cago, 111. 

Schultz,  Otto,  Jr.,  Chicago,  111. 

Sensenbrenner,  J.  Leslie,  Kimberly-Clarke  Co.,  Neenah,  Wis. 

Shelly,  W.  P.,  Shevlin,  Carpenter  &  Clarke  Co.,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Sliger,  O.,  Mengel  Co.,  Louisville,  Ky. 

Slocum,  Bert,  Madison,  Wis. 

Smith,  Kent,  Shevlin,  Carpenter  &  Clarke  Co.,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

Smith,  Lowry,  Asst.  Division  Engineer,  Northern  Pacific  R.  R.,  St. 
Paul,  Minn. 

Smith,  M.  W.,  Duiron  Co.,  Dayton,  Ohio. 

Snider,  Margaret,  Madison,  Wis. 

Sterling,  E.  D.,  Yawkey-Bissell  Lumber  Co.,  White  Lake,  Wis. 

Sterhng,  Elsie,  White  Lake,  Wis. 

Stocking,  E.  J.,  Central  Creosoting  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 

Stuart,  M.  H.,  National  Basket  &  Fruit  Packing  Mfgrs.  Assn.,  St. 
Joseph,  Mich. 

Swan,  O.  T.,  Northern  Hemlock  &  Hardwood  Assn.,  Oshkosh,  Wis. 

Swan,  O.  T.,  Mrs.,  Oshkosh,  Wis. 

Tamlin,  B.  C,  National  Assn.  of  Corrugated  Fibre  Box  Mfgrs.  Assn., 

Chicago,  111. 
Taylor,  C.  M.,  Pennsylvania  &  Reading  R.  R.,  Port  Reading,  N.  J. 
Taylor,  Hugh  K.,  Editor,  "Lumber",  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Taylor,  Lucy  S.,  Madison,  Wis. 
Taylor,  S.  D.,  Perkins  Glue  Co.,  South  Bend,  Ind. 
Taylor,  W.  D.,  Mrs.,  Madison,  Wis. 
Thielens,  A.  B.,  Studebaker  Corp.,  South  Bend,  Ind. 
Thomas,  Leon  I.,  Editor,  "Factory",  Chicago,  111. 
Thompson,   P.   M.,    Science   Master,   Windsor    Collegiate   College, 

Windsor,  Ontario. 
Thorkelson,  H.  J.,  Business  Mgr.,  Univ.  of  Wisconsin,  Madison,  Wis. 
Tiemann,  J.  H.,  Mrs.,  Madison,  Wis. 
Tuttle,  L.  S.,  Minneapohs,  Minn.  (Wholesale  Lumber  Dealer). 

Van  Camp,  E.  E.,  American  Hardwood  Mfgrs.  Assn.,  Memphis, 

Tenn. 
Van  Camp,  E.  E.,  Mrs.,  Memphis,  Tenn. 


A  Decexxial  Record  187 

Vilas,  Dr.  C.  H.,  Board  of  Regents,  University  of  Wisconsin,  Mad- 
ison, Wis. 

Vogel,  Fred  A.,  Pfister  &  A'ogel  Co.,  Milwaukee  Wis.,  Representing 
"Tanners  Council." 

Waldron,  Eloise,  Fargo,  Xorth  Dakota. 

Waldron,  M.  B.,  Agric.  College  of  North  Dakota,  Fargo,  N.  D. 

Ward,  A.  F..  National  Assn.  Basket  &  Fruit  Package  Mfgrs.  Assn., 

Plymouth.  Ind. 
Weiss,  H.  F.,  C.  F.  Burgess  Laboratories,  Madison,  Wis. 
Weiss,  H.  F.,  :SIrs.,  31adison,  Wis. 
Werbelo,  F.  C,  Shawano  Box  Co.,  Shawano,  Wis. 
Wetmore,  R.  W.,  Sec'y  and  Treas.,  Shevlin  Co.,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 
AVheary.  Geo.  H.,  Hartniaun  Trunk  Co..  Racine  Wis.,  Representing 

Baggage  ]Mfgrs.  Assn. 
Wheaton,  W.  R.,  Manager,  Pulpwood  Co.,  Appleton,  Wis. 
Wheaton,  W.  R.,  Mrs.,  Appleton,  Wis. 

Wheeler,  W.  C,  Student.  University  of  Wisconsin,  Madison.  Wis. 
White,  Thos.  A.,  Pres..  Crane  &  :MacMahon,  Inc.,  St.  ^Nlarv's,  Ohio  k 

St.  Mary's  Wheel  &  Spoke  Co.,  St.  Mary's,  Ohio. 
Windoes,  Ralph  F.,  Editor,  "Furniture  Mfgr.  k  Artisan",  Grand 

Rapids,  Mich. 
Winkenwerder.  Hugo,  University  of  Washington,  Seattle,  Wash. 
Woodford,  E.  G.,  YaM-kev-Bissell  Lumber  Co.,  White  Lake,  Wis. 
Woodford,  E.  G.,  Mrs.,  White  Lake,  Wis. 
Wright,  Dorothy,  ]Madison,  Wis. 
Wulpi,  M.,  Plywood  ^Manufacturers'  ^Vssn.,  Chicago,  111. 

Yager,  Louis,  Engineer  ]M.  of  Way,  Northern  Pacific  R.  R.,  St.  Paul, 

:Minn. 
Yager,  ]Mrs.,  St.  Paul.  ]Minn. 

Young.  Edward  J..  Foster  Creek  Lbr.  &  Mfg.  Co.,  Madison,  Wis. 
Young,  Howard  S.,  National  Basket  &  Fruit  Pkg.  Mfgr.  Assn., 

Indianapolis,  Ind. 

Zelmer,  Geo.  R.,  Morgan  Co.,  Oshkosh,  Wis. 

Zelmer.  Mr.,  Jr.,  Oshkosh,  Wis. 

Zoelle,  F.  J.,  Passenger  Agent,  C.  k  N.  W.  Ry.,  Madison,  Wis. 


A  Deckxnial  Kkcord 


180 


FORMER  STAFF  MEMBERS 

FoiiEST  Products  Laboratory 

Left  the  laboratory  prior  to  July  1,  1920. 

S.  F.  Acree  Manager, 

International  Chemical  Products  Co. 
Eureka,  Montana. 


Shirley  W.  Allen 

Charles  T.  Barnuin 
Francis  ]M.  Bond 

H.  Stanley  Bristol 

Frank  E.  Bonner 

Samuel  Butterman 

James  T^.  Brownlee 


Forest  Supervisor, 
Angeles  National  Forest 
Los  Angeles,  California. 

Wilkesbarre,  Pennsylvania. 

General  jNIanager, 
Corticelli  Silk  jSIills, 
Florence,  Massachusetts. 

Department  JNIanager, 
Baeder-Adamson  Company, 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania 

Assistant  Chief  Engineer, 
U.  S.  Forest  Service, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Proprietor, 

Monarch  Textile  Company, 

Chicago,  Illinois. 

Assistant  District  Engineer, 
\Z.  S.  Forest  Service, 
Denver,  Colorado. 


190 


The  Fokest  Products  Laboratory 


Horace  T.  Burgess 
McGarvey  Cline 


Robert  E.  Cooper 


Ollison  Craig 


Richard  A.  Colgan 


Waynesville,  Ohio. 

Vice-President, 
Florida  Pine  Company, 
Consulting  Engineer, 
Consolidated  Naval  Stores  Co., 
Jacksonville,  Florida. 

Resident  Engineer — Soo  Mill, 
Spanish  River  Pulp  &  Paper  Co. 
Sault  Ste.  Marie,  Ontario. 

Research  Engineer, 
Underfeed  Stoker  Company, 
Detroit,  Michigan. 

Forester, 

Diamond  Match  Co., 

Chico,  Cal. 


Rufus  Crane 


Assistant  Professor  of  Engineering, 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University, 
Deleware,  Ohio 


Clarence  W.  Coye 


C.  K.  Cooperrider 


Fredrick  Dunlap 


Technical  Expert, 

W.  H.  Coye  Organization, 

Grand  Rapids,  Michigan. 

Grazing  Examiner, 
U.  S.  Forest  Service, 
Albuquerque,  New  Mexico. 

Consulting  Forester, 
Columbia,  Missouri. 


A  Decennial  Record 


191 


Edward  P.  Devlin 

Arthur  J.  DeSmidt 
Joseph  D.  Deihl 

Walter  C.  Daley 
Armin  Elmendorf 

Nils  B.  Eckbo 


Lerov  P.  Elliott 


Ernest  D.  Fahlberg 


Jenness  B.  Frear 


Chemist, 

Pitcaim  Varnish  Company, 

Milwaukee,  Wisconsin. 

Confectionery  Manufacturer, 
Oshkosh,  Wisconsin. 

Vice-Principal, 

Boys'  Technical  High  School, 

Milwaukee,  Wisconsin. 

Central  Waxed  Paper  Company, 
Chicago,  Illinois. 

Consulting  Engineer, 

Haskehte   Manufacturing  Corporation, 

Chicago,  Illinois. 

In  Charge  Kiln  Drying  Research, 
Forest  Department, 
Government  of  South  Africa, 
Pretoria,  South  Africa. 

Dean,  Vocational  Courses, 
Bradley  Pol>i:echnic  Institute, 
Peoria,  Ilhnois. 

Assistant  Professor, 

Department  of  Chemical  Engineering, 

University  of  Wisconsin, 

Madison,  Wisconsin. 

SpeciaHst  in  Boxing  and  Crating, 
American  Radiator  Company, 
Buffalo,  New  York. 


192 


The  Fokkst  Products  Laboratory 


Clark  W.  Gould 


Frank  J.  Hallaiier 


S.  B.  Henninff 


Henry  J.  Hegel 


M.  H.  Hostman 


Eugene  F.  Horn 

Jacob  M.  Johlin,  Jr 
John  A.  Jess 

Don  P.  Johnston 


Forest  Examiner, 
Office  of  Products, 
U.  S.  Forest  Service, 
Portland,  Oregon. 

Edward  J.  Young,  Lumberman, 
Madison,  Wisconsin. 

Technical  Advisor  on  Gluing  Prol)lems, 
Milwaukee,  Wisconsin. 

In  Charge  Collection  and  Claim 

Divisions, 
General  Electric  Company, 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

Pacific  Coast  Representative, 

In  Charge  of  Industrial  Sales  and 

Engineering, 
American  Radiator  Company, 
San  Francisco,  California. 

Linha  Paulista, 

Estado  de  Sao  Paulo,  Brazil. 

Syracuse,  University, 
Syracuse,  New  York. 

Consulting  Mining  Engineer, 
Jasper  Park  Collieries,  Limited, 
Royal  Mineral  Association, 
Duluth,  Minnesota. 

General  Manager, 
Johnston-McNeil  Company, 
Naval  Stores. 
Okechobee,  Florida. 


A  Decennial  Record 


193 


J.  X( 


Jensen 


A^'ilhml  TI.  Kempt'er 


xVrcliitectural  Engineer, 

175  West  Jackson  Boulevard, 

Chicago,  Illinois. 

Cattle  Kanclier, 
Deer  Park,  Florida. 


Simon  Kii'scli 


Botanical  Tval)()rat()ry, 
McGill  University, 
^Montreal,  Canada. 


Fredrick  W.  Kressn 


^Manager, 

Continental  Tur])entine  and  Rosin 

Company, 
Faurel,  Mississippi. 


Harrv  X.  Knowltoii 


Boxing  and  l^acking  Specialist, 
General  Electric  Conij^jany, 
Schenectadv,  X^ew  York. 


Carl  A.  Kupfer 


California  Representative, 
X^orth  Coast  Dry  Kiln  Conij)any, 
Berkeley,  California. 


Jesse  B.  Kommer: 


Associate  Professor  of  Mechanics, 
University  of  Wisconsin, 
^ladison,  Wisconsin. 


James  C.  Uawrence 


President, 

American  Chemical  ]\rachinery  Co., 

Chester,  Pennsylvania. 


Joseph  P.  Mehlig 


University  of  Wyoming, 
Fa  ramie,  Wyoming. 


lOJ-  The  Forest  Products  I^rABORATORv 

Leslie  K.  ^Morris  »ngiiieer, 

Chicago  ]Mill  and  lAiiiiber  Company, 
Chicago.  Illinois. 

Ayilliani  AV.  Morris  Consulting  Forester  and  I^andscape 

Architect, 
Fine  Bluff,  Arkansas. 

Teodido  J.  Medicielo  Road  Construction  Engineer, 

City  of  Tacloban, 
I.,eyte,  Philippine  Islands. 

Samuel  ^Nlorrell  Chief  Structural  Engineer, 

Sanitary  District  of  Chicago, 
Chicago,  Illinois. 

Edward  R.  ^Nlaurer  Professor  of  Mechanics, 

College  of  "Engineering, 
University  of  Wisconsin, 
]Madison,  Wisconsin. 

George  C.  ]\IcNaughton      Plant  Superintendent. 

The  ]Mead  Fibre  Company, 
Kingsport,  Tennessee. 

Andrew  H.  ]McKenzie         Kansas  City  Fibre  Company, 

Kansas  City,  Kansas. 

Charles  R.  Xorris  ]\Iechanical  Engineer, 

Development  and  INIaintenance  of 

Plants. 
Haskelite  IManufacturing  Corporation, 
Grand  Rapids,  Michigan. 


A  Decennial  Record  195 


Hobert  C.   Paliuer  Chief  Chemist, 

The  Newport  Company, 
Pensacohi,  Flori(hi. 

E.  W.  Peters  J-  Aroii  (k  Company,  Inc.. 

95  AVall  Street, 
New  York,  New  York. 

Kobert  E.  Prince  Sn])erintendent, 

A(hims  and  Elting  Company, 
Chicago.  Illinois. 

Don  L.  Quinn  ^Manager  Research  Department, 

Cliicago  ]Mill  l^-  laimber  Company, 
Chicago,  Illinois. 

S.  W.  Schorger  Chemist, 

Tlie  Bnrgess  Laboratories, 
Madison,  Wisconsin. 

C.  v.  Sweet  In  Charge  Enm])er  and  Drying 

Research, 
Forest  Researcli  Institnte, 
Dehra  Dun.  V.  V.  India. 

Edwin  SutcTiiicister  ^^'^^ief  Chemist, 

S.  D.  Warren  Com])any. 
Cum])erland  INIills.  Maine. 

O.  L.  Sponsler  Researcli  Fellow, 

Stanford  University, 
Palo  Alto.  California. 

Louis  Suetter  Technical  Expert. 

W.  H.  Coye  Organization. 
Grand  Ra])ids.  ^Michigan. 


iDO 


The  Fokest  Products  Labokatorv 


Clyde  H.  Teesdale 
John  H.  Thickens 

Chnton  K.  Textor 

J.  R.  Watkins 


Howard  F.  AV 


eiss 


Grand  Rapids,  ^Michigan. 

Vice  President  and  General  Manager, 
The  INIeade  Fibre  Company, 
Kingsport,  Tennessee. 

Chemical  Engineer, 
Xorthwestern  Paper  Company, 
Clo([uet,  Minnesota. 

Research  Engineer, 

Chicago  ]Mill  and  lAmi])er  Company, 

Chicago,  Illinois. 

Treasurer, 

The  Burgess  Lal)oratories, 

^Madison,  Wisconsin. 


O.  L.  E.  Weber 


Lage  Wernsted 


James  B.  Yule 


Vice  President  and  General  Manager, 
Watal)  Paper  Company, 
Sartell,  Minnesota. 

U.  S.  Forest  Service, 
Portland,  Oregon. 

Assistant  Engineer, 
U.  S.  Forest  Service, 
Missoula,  Montana. 


K  C.  State  College 


